WESTFIELD—Mayor Brian Sullivan and his Run Westfield team donated money to help combat the opioid crisis in Westfield.
The team donated funds that were raised through their fundraising efforts leading up to the fifth annual Run Westfield 5K Road Race. The money was donated to the city’s Opioid Task Force fund, which provides education and events related to the opiate crisis. The check was presented to the Task Force by Domenic Maynard, a 9-year-old whose parents have overcome opiate addiction, according to his foster mother, Heather Sullivan.
Domenic Maynard, 9, presents the donation check to Kathy Sitler from the Opioid Task Force. From left to right: Brian Tierney, Domenic Maynard, Mike Tierney, Kathy Sitler, Mayor Brian Sullivan
A total of $180 was donated to the Task Force, which is set to be deposited into the Opioid Task Force fund.
According to Brian Sullivan, this is the third year his team has participated in the race but the first year that the donation has gone to the Task Force. Each year, teams from Run Westfield get to donate proceeds to a charity of their choice, if they get 25 people on their team, he said.
According to Mike Tierney, organizer for Run Westfield, the idea for the race and the set-up came as he saw the revitalization of Westfield.
“We saw an opportunity to celebrate the rebirth of Westfield,” he said. “Community support was beyond expectation.”
Tierney said that they also wanted to “create something to give back to those who need it,” and thus fundraising and charitable donations were incorporated.
“This year, approximately $5,000 was given back to 16 charities” through Run Westfield, according to Tierney.
Tierney said that the donations have grown by about 10 percent each year over the five years that the race has existed.
