MARLBOROUGH – As the sounds of “Lovely Day” and other upbeat tunes wafted across the parking lot of the Marlboro Moose Family Center, dozens of enlarged photos lined up along the finish line.
These were the “angels,” those who lost their lives to substance abuse.
More than 350 friends and family members came on May 11 for the seventh annual Remember Our Angels 5K to run, walk and remember their loved ones.
“This means so much to us,” said Cheryl Juaire, who organized the event. “It was beyond successful.”
She is the founder of Team Sharing, which provides support for individuals and families affected by addiction and the loss of loved ones and family members.
Juaire knows about loss all too well; two of her sons died from substance abuse.
Her advocacy led not only to the founding of Team Sharing, but The Sun Will Rise, a program that provides peer grief support across Massachusetts.
“Cheryl was the one who encouraged me to start my first group,” said founder Robyn Houston-Bean, who brought a team of 54 to the event.
Participants began at Sasseville Way, just above the parking lot, and wound along the Assabet River Rail Trail back to the family center.
The overall winner was Hayden Kearney of Shrewsbury, who said he ran “for a wonderful cause.”
The first woman to cross the line was Liz Foley of Millbury, who ran in honor of her brother, Brian Foley, who died in 2014 at the age of 27.
Before and after the event, participants strolled along the line of photos; some stood in silence, others recalled a story or two.
The event also featured a raffle and the opportunity to sign up for a special Overdose Awareness license plate. According to Juaire, 500 license plates have been requested, but another 250 are needed before the state will produce them.
For information about Team Sharing, visit www.teamsharinginc.org.
