By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Photo/Ed Karvoski Jr.
Hudson – Longtime gym buddies Sue Beaulieu and Jamie Miller of Hudson already shared common interests before they realized that each of their families has been affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Beaulieu’s father, Jack Veo, passed away from ALS in March 2014. Miller’s brother, Terry Nash, currently has ALS.
The friends are now preparing to run the Boston Marathon with the UMass ALS Cellucci Fund team. They’re hopeful that their fundraising efforts through April will exceed the required $15,000.
Beaulieu and Miller have previously supported the final campaign of Hudson’s native son Argeo Paul Cellucci, former Massachusetts governor and ambassador to Canada. They ran the past two years in the Gov. Cellucci Tribute Road Race, benefiting the UMass ALS Cellucci Fund.
After last year’s 5K, Miller approached his widow, Jan, about running with the Cellucci Fund team in the 2016 Boston Marathon. Soon afterward, Beaulieu decided to join Miller. Following an application process, they became a team within the team as they raise funds.
“From the very beginning we’ve pooled donations together,” Miller explained. “We both know so many of the same people in Hudson and we didn’t want them to feel like they had to donate to each of us. We need to raise a minimum of $15,000.”
Working toward that goal, they created an online fundraising page, and Facebook and Twitter accounts. Next, they began planning fundraisers to involve the general public.
They’re applying teamwork lessons learned while training together for the Baystate Marathon in Lowell this past October. However, they acknowledge that marathon training is easier than fundraising, Beaulieu noted.
“A marathon is a commitment, but it’s not as scary as fundraising,” she said. “It goes against my grain to ask people for money. I’m a very shy person.”
Yet, she summoned courage when they recently collected donations in front of Bacon’s Wines & Spirits in Hudson.
“It shocked us at how generous and nice people were,” Beaulieu said. “It was humbling and eye-opening to see the generosity of people giving us money out of their car windows.”
It was also an opportunity for them to speak with people about the benefitting charity, Miller noted.
“You see these tables outside of stores a lot, but not very often for ALS,” she said. “Everybody in Hudson knows the Cellucci name, so a lot of people came over to us because they knew him and saw his name on our poster board.”
The friends understand the significance of personally knowing someone with ALS and their caregivers. At the time Beaulieu’s father was diagnosed, she participated in the ALS Association Worcester Walk. When she wore a T-shirt from the walk at the gym, it got Miller’s attention and they shared their families’ firsthand experiences with ALS.
“Jamie has someone to talk to about ALS because I’ve been through it,” Beaulieu relayed. “It definitely has brought us much closer.”
They also raised funds and awareness recently at the Hudson Downtown Holiday Stroll. Fundraisers will continue through April.
“The Ice Bucket Challenge definitely brought ALS to everybody’s attention,” Miller noted. “We’d hate to see that attention fizzle out before a cure is found.”
On Sunday, Jan. 10, they’ll host a spin-a-thon at Boost in Hudson at 9:15, 10:30 and 11:45 a.m. A bike can be reserved for $25. Fundraising with sponsors is encouraged.
A meat shoot is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 22, from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Hudson VFW Post 1027. The event will include raffles and a cash bar.
For fundraiser updates, and to contact Beaulieu and Miller on Facebook, click here: https://www.facebook.com/Jamie-and-Sue-run-Boston-for-ALS-434117516783596/?fref=ts and Twitter at: https://twitter.com/MovingMtns4ALS.
