Today the 2nd annual Full Hearts 5K for the Fit Girls Run Club will take place. This is a popular running, reading and community service program for Marblehead girls in grades 4-6.

The race will start at 9am at the Village School and it’s open to the community. The Fit Girls Run Club is celebrating its 8th year. First, in the fall each year, the girls train for the 5k, ead and discuss books with female protagonists and plan community service programs. On Saturday, November 21, for instance, they will be partnering with the SPUR Marblehead to do a day of service doing fall year clean-up for neighbors who need help.

As the president of Marblehead Fit Girls, Jennie Sheridan explained, “The curriculum lessons focus on setting and achieving goals, overcoming challenges and teaching the girls to find their inner voice by encouraging individuality and positive self-image.”

The Northeastern Massachusetts Walk to End Alzheimer’s took place on Sunday, September 20th at Brickstone Park in Andover. As Jim Wessler, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH Chapter said, “If we are to be successful in finding effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, we will need thousands of people to commit to raising public awareness. The money raised by the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is critical to our fight against this disease. We are grateful to each person who makes a commitment to participate by walking, donating or volunteering.”

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is their biggest event each year to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Find out more at alzwalkMANH.org.

Orange Leaf Marblehead is about to have its third anniversary celebration. They are raising money for SPUR, a new Marblehead-based community organization that helps to get volunteers together to do community service.

The anniversary fundraiser will take place on April 21, 2015 from 12-10pm at Orange Leaf Marblehead at 12 Atlantic Avenue. 100% of the day’s earnings from the purchase of delicious frozen yogurt and fruit smoothies will go to SPUR.

The Marblehead Dollars for Scholars had a reception at the Marblehead Historical Society to celebrate that they were selected as the 201r National Affiliate of the Year by Scholarship America. Chosen from a competition of about 600 affiliate chapters, the nonprofit was honored for their outstanding service to the community and their commitment to focusing on post-secondary education.

Since it was founded in 1987, Marblehead Dollars for Scholars has awarded more than $2.7 million to 1200 local students.

On their website, the Marblehead Dollars for Scholars explains is purpose as “Marblehead Dollars for Scholars’ purpose is to raise scholarship funding through current giving and the establishment and maintenance of a permanent endowment. Award selection is accomplished through an Awards Committee comprised of members of the Board of Directors and coordinated with the High School awards process. Scholarship grants range from $1,500 to $7,000 and are awarded to high school seniors, advanced standing students and continuing education candidates. Marblehead Dollars for Scholars also provides award candidates for other scholarship funds not under its direct control.”

– See more at: http://marblehead.wickedlocal.com/article/20150108/NEWS/150107031/12423/NEWS#sthash.NQN9dHMh.dpuf

Eight volunteers of Care Dimensions recently completed a bereavement training program for non-profit organizations. Care Dimensions used to be called Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston.

The training helped the volunteers to learn about pre-bereavement phone calls, peer support group facilitation and supporting the patient’s families. Prior to doing this special training, the volunteers completed a 16 hour training program that all Care Dimensions volunteers do. For anyone who is interested in being a volunteer, the next training session will be on February 11th from 9:30-11:30 am at the Kaplan Family Hospice House at 78 Liberty Street in Danvers. This program will run until April 1.

The Marblehead Dollars for Scholars recently had their third annual 5K Run and Family Walk. There were approximately 500 registered participants and they raised more than $12,000 for the Marblehead Dollars for Scholars, which is a charitable organization that provides financial need-based scholarships to students in Marblehead.

The overall winner was Brian Heenan and the first place female runner was Carrie Page.
The winners in each of the categories were:

Under 19: Oliver Jacob and Madeline Piela

Age 20-29: Jesse Scarborough and Caroline Caliri

Age 30-39: Tim McCormick and Courtney O’Connor

Age 40-49: Mike Lavender and Tammy Cook

Age 50-59: Dan Forster and Sally Reiley

Age 60 and Over: Jeff Averick and Ruth Ann Weidner

In a class by himself: Jim Greene

See the full story.