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Michael Toole: A Charity Runner for Children’s Hospital Boston

By Michelle Murdock, Freelance Writer

It’s that time of year again; the time when we get to meet and hear the stories of local residents who are training to run the Boston Marathon. In the eight years that I have covered local Hopkinton news, I have met and written about my next door neighbor, a friend, and a marathoner from Greece. Today, I’d like to introduce you to Michael Toole and his daughter, Avery.

Toole is running the Boston Marathon for the first time and has pledged to raise $5,000 for Children’s Hospital, a place where his wife, Cheryl, works, and where his daughter Avery has been a patient many times in the last six years. Avery was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition that left her with little or no left ventricle. When she was five days old, she underwent open heart surgery. Over the next five years, Avery was in and out of the hospital and in March of 2009, her heart failed. She spent the next seven months in intensive care at Children’s Hospital and in August of 2009 received a donor heart and underwent a transplant. Her father is running the Boston Marathon for her, and in memory of her donor, an 8-year old boy named Dalton Lawyer who was hit by a car. His parents donated his organs, and Avery received a new heart.

“She’s been getting better every day since, and she’s never been healthier than she is today,” said Toole, “and we have Children’s Hospital Boston to thank for that.”

Toole says a friend of his ran for Avery in the past, as part of the Patient Partner Program at Children's, and encouraged him to participate. Toole applied and was accepted as a member of the Miles for Miracles team. He has run two marathons in the past, but not since 2000, and the training has been difficult with all the snow this year. He doesn't have a target time in mind for Boston, but just hopes to finish without any injuries.

Toole will be holding a Cut-a-Thon at The Razor’s Edge Hair Salon at 85 Main Street on Saturday, March 5, 2011 from 9am to 12noon. A minimum donation of $20 for a “wet” haircut (no styling or blow drying) is suggested. Hair extensions at $10 will also be available. All proceeds from the Cut-a-Thon will go to Children’s Hospital Boston.

To listen to Mike and Avery tell their story, watch the HCAM News video below. A client at Razor’s Edge who was present during the taping was so moved, that he made a donation on the spot. If you’d like to support Mike and Avery, but can’t make it to The Razor’s Edge on Saturday, visit his Marathon Page to make a donation on-line.

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