Northborough – Sandra Gittlen, a resident of Northborough, will be running in her fourth Boston Marathon April 18 to benefit the Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton.
Gittlen said she enjoys being at the ready to help animals who end up at the Hopkinton-based shelter find their forever homes.
“Their need is what drives me to train in harsh winters and then run 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston each year – them and my own brood of rescues,” said Gittlen, who adopted two dogs and two cats from Baypath. “Every day, Baypath receives calls from animal control officers and overcrowded rescues about animals that urgently need a safe place to go. The more money we raise, the more animals Baypath can take in.”
For the past six years, Gittlen has been a hands-on volunteer at Baypath assisting adopters in finding their four-footed companions and growing the shelter’s Facebook presence, which is today is an interactive community of 10,000+ people. Last year, she joined Baypath’s Board of Directors, where she leads the Donor Development committee, cultivating relationships with donors and bringing them closer to the organization.
“Sandy has an innate ability to make the animals feel comfortable and happy, whether she’s helping a scared dog gain confidence or fostering a cat with special needs,” said Baypath Executive Director Elizabeth Jefferis. “She also has been instrumental in strengthening affinity for Baypath among our adopters, donors, and the community at large.”
In her previous three years running the Boston Marathon for Baypath, Gittlen has raised more than $20,000 for stray and unwanted dogs and cats. This year, she aims to top $10,000 to ensure Baypath can extend its reach further into the community.
To support Gittlen’s Marathon run, visit http://bit.ly/1ObQI9D or send a check to Baypath Humane Society, Attn: Sandy’s Boston Marathon Run, 5 Rafferty Rd., Hopkinton, MA 01748. Donors of $100 or more will have their pet’s name on the shirt she’ll wear during her 26.2-mile journey to Boston.