WESTFIELD-When Angela Flanagan received a fateful call on the evening of May 22, her family’s world changed in a split second.
“On the day of Tom’s accident he went to work like he normally did on Sundays,” said Flanagan, noting she was attending a birthday party with their children, Liam and Gianna. “I received a phone call around 7:40 p.m. that Tom had been in a serious car accident.”
In police reports a driver crossed the center line on College Street in South Hadley and hit Flanagan’s car head-on.
By the time she arrived at Baystate Medical Center, Flanagan said the ER physician was waiting for her.
“My heart was pounding,” she said. “The doctor said the man whom we presume to be Thomas Flanagan has passed away tonight. Those words play over and over and over in my head.”
As we reported earlier this year, a meal train was established for Flanagan and her children who reside in the city and now on Sept. 11, “A Walk To Remember Tom Flanagan” has been planned at Brunelle’s Marina, 1 Alvord St., South Hadley.
Ray Morin, president of the Leprechaun Plunge that is conducted at Brunelle’s each year and his wife Rudy Morin, along with Thomas Convery of the Westfield State University Alumni Department, are organizing the fundraiser with all proceeds being donated to The Flanagan Memorial Fund. Tom Flanagan was a 2008 graduate of Westfield State, majoring in business management. Angela Flanagan will continue her studies at Westfield State this fall, majoring in early childhood education.
“To get involved we are simply asking everyone to come to the walk and show their love and support by helping us raise money for Liam and Gianna’s futures,” said Flanagan.
Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the walk will kick off at 10 a.m. Tickets are $30 which includes a T-shirt and lunch with food being provided by Masse’s and Family Pizza. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.com which also provides more details on the walk.
The day will also include a live band, photo booth, face painting, raffles and much more, according to Flanagan.
For people who cannot attend but would like to make a donation of any size, donations can be sent to The Flanagan Memorial Fund, c/o Peoples Bank, 825 Hampden St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Raffle prizes will also be accepted the day of the event.
