Call it what you wish — a high school and family reunion combined into one; a way to help children in the Greater Boston area and honor the victims of last year’s Marathon bombings, or a fun night out at the bar.
Newington natives Rob Perkoski and Bob Cassin had all those things in mind when they decided to plan their 2014 Boston Marathon Benefit March 1 at The Bar and Grill, 512 Cedar Street in Newington.
The pair are lifelong friends and Newington High School graduates from the Class of 1995, who are both running the marathon this April 21. Their inclusion in the Boston Bruins Foundation team means all money raised will go to benefit the non-profit, which provides funding to enhance the quality of life for children across New England in athletics, academics, community outreach and health.
“We thought it would be cool for our hometown to rally behind the marathon after what happened last year and Nick, the owner, has been gracious enough to open up the whole bar to us that night,” said Cassin, who was having lunch on Boylston Street in Boston when two bombs went off at last year’s race, killing three people and injuring hundreds of others.
“I was 20 to 30 yards away from where the second bomb went off,” he remembers. “At the time we didn’t know what was going on … they told us to run towards the Charles River.”
Because he lives about three miles away in Charlestown, Mass., Cassin started walking home, and ended up also helping a woman taking the same route find her way back. Now less than a year later he’s squeezing time to train into his busy schedule since he’ll be running in the event.
“I travel full time for my job so I have to fit in my training when I can, but when you look back at what all these families went through, how they suffered through that — trying to find an hour or so out of your day isn’t that hard,” Cassin says.
Perkoski, who also lives in Boston, ran in 2009 and 2011. Although he didn’t participate last year, his wife did. Luckily she happened to leave the race early before the bombs went off to care for the couple’s young twin boys.
“When that happened — at what is considered the Super Bowl of running events in the entire world — you just want to do what you can,” he says. “I felt the best way to do that was to run again, to support the city and the community.”
Both Perkoski and Cassin still call Newington “home” because their families live in town and they visit as often as they can. They expect to see a few hundred friends and relatives at the upcoming benefit, many of whom are also making a special trip to town to lend their support.
If you can’t attend the fundraiser but would like to help Bob and Rob support the Boston Bruins Foundation, visit their fundraising webpages at: www.crowdrise.com/bostonbruinsfoundation2014baa/fundraiser/bobcassin (and/or)
www.crowdrise.com/bostonbruinsfoundation2014baa/fundraiser/robperkoski
Erica Schmitt can be reached at (860) 225-4601, ext. 210, or eschmitt@newbritainherald.com.
If you go:
WHAT: The 2014 Boston Marathon Benefit
WHEN: March 1 beginning at 7 p.m. to close
WHERE: The Bar Grill, 512 Cedar Street, Newington
HOW: $20 donation at the door, includes raffle prizes and appetizers