The Lyme-Old Lyme community is coming together Saturday, July 26, to honor the memory of Caroline O’Brien of Old Lyme when the Fifth Annual Caroline’s Miracle Foundation 5K Run, 5K Walk and Kids K are held. This race attracted more than 500 runners last year, and continues to build in numbers every year.
Caroline was an 11-year-old girl, who passed away July 19, 2010, from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) – a rare and inoperable form of brain cancer.
This event is being held to once again honor Caroline’s courage and bravery and also raise funds to support the charity she founded called Caroline’s Miracle Foundation. The mission of CMF is to bring smiles to the faces of children battling brain tumors and other serious illnesses, as well as supporting safety initiatives in Old Lyme. To see some of the ways the foundation has “brought smiles to the faces” of children visit carolinesmiraclefoundation.org
A committee of volunteers of all ages has planned the race, which will be timed and is both flat and fast. The race will start in front of Lyme/Old Lyme Middle School, head down historic Lyme Street and weave its way through the historic village of Old Lyme.
This year’s race has a Beach Bum theme. Young friends of Caroline have made posters and decorations to line the race route, including the now familiar ‘smiley face’ logo, which adorns the shirts for the first 200 registered runners.
Prizes will be awarded to the top male and female finisher plus the top three male and female finishers of the 5K in each age group.
Registration opens at 6:45 a.m. at the Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) at 59 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT. There are three separate events; the 5K walk starts at 8:00 am, the 5K run starts at 8:15 am and the Kids’ K starts at 9:00 am.
Following the run, a party with music, food, free massages, and more will be held at LYSB. After that, runners and their families are invited to stop by the Old Lyme Midsummer Festival, taking place all day on Lyme Street.
Participants are strongly encouraged to pre-register online at www.
For further information, contact Jennifer O’Brien at 860-434-2246 or e-mail miracles@