Join Team Make-A-Wish®; Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island Named Official Charity Partner for the 2023 Providence Marathon

February 17, 2023

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island is teaming up with Ventures Endurance, part of Gannett‘s USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures, as the official charity partner of the 2023 Providence Marathon and Half Marathon. The race runs through historic downtown sites on Sunday, May 7 and offers scenic views of the Providence River and city neighborhoods. Applications are being accepted for Team Make-A-Wish through March 1, 2023. To learn more or apply, visit massri.wish.org/providencemarathon.

As the official charity partner, Make-A-Wish will have a team of 30 runners, all raising money for the organization’s mission of creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Team members include wish recipients, parents and siblings of wish recipients, Make-A-Wish volunteers, Make-A-Wish Board and staff members, and local educators and medical professionals.

“We are honored to be the official charity partner of such an iconic Providence event,” said Michael Vieira, Rhode Island Regional Director of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, “The funds raised through this opportunity will help us grant incredible and necessary wishes for Rhode Island children who deserve the hope and joy that a wish provides. The stories of the runners on Team Make-A-Wish are incredibly moving, and we’re thrilled to give them the platform to honor our mission by running. The makeup of the team is an example of the community involved with granting every wish.”

Before the race, wish recipient Kaylee Chambers, 17, of Woonsocket, RI, will perform the National Anthem. Kaylee, diagnosed with cancer, had her wish to meet singer Lauren Daigle granted in 2021. Wish recipient Miles Oliver, 8, of Roxbury Crossing, MA, will be the race’s “Kid Captain,” and his mother Colleen Brady will run the Half Marathon, in celebration of Miles’ last month of his two-year chemotherapy treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“We are thrilled to have Make-A-Wish as the charity partner for the Providence Marathon and Half Marathon race,” said Chip Hazewski, Providence Marathon Race Director, Ventures Endurance. “They do an amazing job granting life-changing wishes for children and we are happy to support this remarkable organization.”

A member of Team Make-A-Wish, Warwick, RI art teacher Joe Belanger, will begin the race last, and Team Make-A-Wish sponsor, The Integlia Family Foundation, will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island for each runner he passes.

For more information about the Providence Marathon and Half Marathon, visit https://providencemarathon.com. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or volunteer, contact info@providencemarathon.com.

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About Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island  

Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The organization is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary. A wish can be a spark that helps a child believe anything is possible. In the face of life-threatening medical conditions, wishes enable children to experience profound joy, renewed strength and resiliency, and lasting hope to keep striving and dreaming for the future. Together with generous supporters and 500+ volunteers, the organization has granted the wishes of nearly 10,000 children in Massachusetts and Rhode Island since its founding 40 years ago, and its vision is to grant the wish of every medically eligible child. For more information and ways to get involved, visit www.massri.wish.org.

About USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures   

USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures creates impactful consumer engagements and experiences through world-class events, promotions, races and technology. We strive to exceed expectations, create unforgettable memories and drive value for our partners while leveraging our reputable institutions, including USA TODAY and more than 200 local media brands.

SOCIAL MEDIA:    

Facebook.com/MassRIWish | Twitter.com/MakeAWishMassRI | Instagram.com/MakeAWishMARI.

Facebook.com/provmarathon | Instagram.com/theprovidencemarathon