Run4Wishes doubles last year's tally ... and they're still counting

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=160830&sc=118

Run4Wishes doubles last year's tally ... and they're still counting

ERIC MCCARTHY
The Journal Pioneer

O’LEARY — “Still today I can’t believe it,” Leading Seaman Michael Murphy remarked Sunday.
He served as organization committee chair for HMCS Charlottetown’s sixth annual Run4Wishes. It was carried out across Prince Edward Island over a five-day period ending Saturday in their ship’s namesake city.
“It’s still rising right now,” Murphy said of the $61,702,55 tally that was revealed during a Saturday night reception.
“People were — they couldn’t believe it. It was silence for a minute and then, ‘Holy cow!’” Murphy said of the reaction when the total flashed on a screen. Then there was standing applause.
Twenty-three members of the ship’s crew ran a relay across P.E.I., joined along the way by several Islanders.
Last year’s run raised $32,000 for the Children’s Wish Foundation.
Organizers had set a goal of raising enough money this year to grant at least four wishes. On average, wishes cost between $10,000 and $12,000.
This year’s tally, as of Saturday, will grant wishes for at least five children with serious or life-threatening illness.
“It just goes to show the generosity of Islanders,” Murphy acknowledged.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=160889&sc=98

Run 4 Wishes raises $60,000

STACEY MURRAY
The Guardian


A group of runners from HMCS Charlottetown helped raise more than $60,000 for the Children’s Wish Foundation, almost double the total raised last year.
The sixth annual Run 4 Wishes raised $61,702 and is still collecting donations from several locations, said leading seaman Michael Murphy. Over the course of five days, the group ran approximately 364 kilometres, travelling from North Cape to East Point, and ending their run Saturday in Charlottetown.
Murphy said he was happy with how the run has turned out.
“The thing that surprised me was the amount of momentum the run gained.”
In June, Murphy told The Guardian he hoped to raise $40,000 from the run, to surpass last year’s total of $32,000.
They never thought they’d be able to raise more than $60,000, he said.
“Never in my wildest dreams.”
The accomplishment hasn’t quite sunk in yet, he said.
“I don’t know how I feel right now.”
Leading seaman Michael Bastarache drove alongside the runners, accepting donations in the Run 4 Wishes giant running shoe, which has been a part of the run for several years. Collecting more than $1,000 a day in the shoe, he said support has been excellent.
“It was really good. There was a huge turnout.”
Over the course of the run’s history, the group has granted six wishes. Murphy said money raised this year means they’ll be able to grant six more wishes, all of which will go to children on the Island.
“All the money raised this week stays on P.E.I.”