Marlborough Eagles Plan 'Rock & Stroll'

While Sunday’s Heritage Festival will attract many people who want to stroll around downtown, the Marlborough chapter of the Fraternal Order of Eagles is hoping that visitors will also come out Saturday to Ghiloni Park -- and stroll around for several worthy causes.

 The Eagles’ “Rock and Stroll” event, set for Saturday, Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ghiloni Park, aims to raise money earmarked for several local charities, including a fund to help prevent and cure cancer among young adults, a group that typically never sees cancer coming and typically suffers more as a result. The Eagles have lined up rock and roll bands to energize the walkers and entertain spectators.

According to Eagle Jim Hollis, a key beneficiary is the Worcester-based 1540 Connection, devoted to improving the cancer survival rate for those aged 15 through 40.

“People that age tend to think that they are invincible,” Hollis said. “The recovery rate has not grown for that age group.”

Hollis has a personal connection to that cause. His brother, Don Hollis of Marlborough, died from colon cancer at age 45. “And among the Eagles, we’ve probably had 20 people die of cancer over the past 15 years,” he said.

Fellow Eagle Vince Natale said he also knows young people who’ve died from cancer. “Young people,” he said, “are simply shocked when they find out they have it.”

The 1540 Connection estimates that almost 67,000 individuals ages 15 through 40 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the US, and cancer is the top disease-related cause of death in that age group. But limited awareness has hampered research, communication and survival rates.

Along with benefiting the 1540 Connection, the stroll will benefit the Eagles’ Diabetes Research Fund, their scholarship fund for local students, and Marlborough Hospital.

 A $50 donation is requested but not mandatory, and lesser donations are still appreciated.   Participants receive a tee shirt, food tickets and water. The cost for spectators is $5, and children under 12 and seniors over 65 are free. Corporate sponsorships are also available.

Natale said that the Marlborough and Worcester Eagles will be cooking up hamburgers, donated by Kennedy’s Market in Marlborough, and 800 hotdogs donated by an anonymous Eagle. Polar Beverages and the local Price Chopper have also donated items for Saturday.

Registration is from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. and the stroll is ongoing. Participants can walk around the track at Ghiloni Park or enjoy the longer woodland trails that go around the park. As they walk, several bands will play 45-minute sets, beginning at 11 a.m.

Natale stresses that the Eagles hope that many will turn out for this fun, non-competitive event.

“It’s by no means a race,” he said. “We want no stress here.”

 For more information visit www.marlboroeagles3565.com or www.15-40.org.