Run For Their Lives

Blood cancer affects thousands of Philadelphians a year — including a Murphy’s regular now facing his second battle. This year’s Murphy Mile raised $1800 for patient support & awareness with a guerrilla-style sprint thru the neighborhood. 

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In a blink, it was over. A one-mile run through East Falls, set for 11 AM last Sunday.

Steve and I scrambled right over after the Pack Walk, only to find Mike Murphy outside, pulling down the tent. “You just missed it, everyone’s inside eating now.”

Wait, what? “Yep, great turnout,” he told us, “We had 30 – 40 people, I’m hoping we raised $1500 for Carve 4 Cancer.” Talk about an efficient fundraiser. And what a blast too!

Thanks to Stephanie Geraghty’s video (above) and the pics from Carve 4 Cancer in this post, we know the fun we’re missing — and will definitely make a plan for next year. A great crowd comes out for the race: all ages, including kids and this year even a dog!

“It’s kind of unofficial,” Murph explained, “One of us drives ahead and another car follows behind, and we just kind of… you know. Run.”

The race starts at Murphy’s Irish Saloon: runners head up Indian Queen down to Vaux, then down Queen, and New Queen all the way to Cresson to the railroad crossing at Indian Queen, and then up & back to Murphy’s where a buffet and beer awaits them.

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And not just any beer, either —  a “Tripel Citrus” donated by Wissahickon Brewing Company, our friendly neighborhood brewery that’s THISCLOSE to opening their tasting room for all of us to enjoy. Congrats to WBC, by the way, on recent coverage in the Phila Business Journal, who seems eager to see them open, too.

Which reminds me: WBC needs our support at this month’s East Falls Zoning meeting 7PM Wednesday November 16th. They need community approval for the necessary zoning or they can’t sell beer to the public from their Schoolhouse Lane brewery — a huge blow to their business plan.

If you support good beer & local business, join us at Down’s Hall on Philadelphia University’s campus. By simply showing up, you can help counter or at least question opposition. Not that near neighbors shouldn’t have a say, but let’s not forget leadership here barked off Foodery years ago, so… just sayin’.

SO WHO WON THE RACE?!

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Congrats to East Falls Flyers Nick Malfitano and Greg Skochko, first and second place winners respectively. We also spoke with Mimi Amabile, who was at the bar celebrating her win for the “Female Smoker, 35 and older” division with Heather Petrone-Shook and her husband, Dennis. Way to go, guys! And, umm, Mimi.  🙂

Prizes? A $50 Murphy’s gift certificate goes to the first person to register online, and also to the first runner to finish, who in addition gets gift certificates to both Taquiera Feliz and Lucky’s Last Chance.

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Not too shabby, considering such a hyper-local event. “A couple of my friends own businesses too, so we try to take care of each other, and support each other’s fundraisers when we can,” said Murphy.

Indeed, Carve 4 Cancer itself was started by one of his friends — Brent Evans, a good friend of Mike’s who lives in the Falls and stops in to Murphy’s often. A big snowboarder, Brent turned his lymphoma diagnosis into a mission to shred blood cancers with the extreme snow sports he loves. Get people active, get them involved.

After years of remission, his cancer returned, and we lost Brent this summer. His spirit lives on, though, as Carve 4 Cancer continues to raise money for blood cancer research, patients, and their families. Earlier this Fall, they sponsored an 8-mile skateboard race, and this February they’ll bring their Art & Music “Shredfest” once again to Big Boulder Mountain (now in its 4th year — check out video from last year on YouTube).

Carve 4 Cancer’s Facebook page broadcasts lots of other fun, exciting ways we can help these survivors and supporters fight cancer and promote awareness. To sponsor or volunteer, fill out their online contact form, or just come out to an event — they’re nice folks, with lots of info to share (that’s rep Cameron Ferrara in the video).

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Cheers to another successful Murphy’s MileIn addition to the registration fees, Mike also donated 15% of his register pull for the day of the event, exceeding their target goal by $300!

Whether you’re a sprinter or a jog-slow-so-you-don’t-spill-your-beer kinda competitor, here’s one “race” where everyone’s a winner. Hope you can join us next November.

Calling all runners! East Falls Flyers meets 6:30PM every Monday night at the Falls Bridge for a local run, followed by a social at a neighborhood bar.

 

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