Canadian Olympian and record-holder passed over 8,000 participants to support the J-Rob Foundation
At the ASICS Falmouth Road Race on Aug. 17, three-time Falmouth Road Race champion Ben Flanagan toed the start line from a unique position. Starting at the very back of the pack, Flanagan opted to be the last runner across the start line to support a special cause. For every participant he passed on his way to the finish line, Flanagan generated a $3 donation to the J-Rob Foundation, a not-for-profit committed to providing adaptive sporting equipment to children with physical disabilities or challenges. Clocking a time of 41:54 and passing 8,088 participants, Flanagan’s race generated $24,264.
Initially, Flanagan’s “charity chaser” campaign was just backed by Falmouth Road Race, Inc. After sharing the efforts with other partners, a silent donor and Falmouth-based Cutter Financial Group, LLC tripled the opportunity. The additional support allowed for the $3 per runner rate.
The selection of the J-Rob Foundation as the recipient of the funds was apt for Flanagan and the event. 2021 Falmouth Road Race Wheelchair Division Champion Hermin Garic is on the board at the J-Rob Foundation and a friend of Flanagan’s. Plus, this year’s race celebrated 50 years of the Wheelchair Division and the event’s status as the oldest competitive wheelchair race in the country.