Falmouth Road Race, Inc. Awards Scholarships to 47 Recent Falmouth Graduates
Tommy Cochary High School Mile 2020, part of Falmouth Track Festival, cancelled due to COVID-19
FALMOUTH, Mass. – Falmouth Road Race, Inc. has awarded 47 scholarships, totaling $70,000, to 2020 high school graduates who reside in Falmouth and will be starting college in the fall. The announcement was made under sunny skies on Saturday morning, June 13, at Falmouth High School’s James T. Kalperis Track.
This is the ninth year that Falmouth Road Race, Inc. (FRR, Inc.), has awarded scholarships to Falmouth graduates, many of whom volunteer annually at the New Balance Falmouth Road Race. The scholarship funds represent just some of the $2.9 million the organization has given back to the community since 2012.
“This year has certainly had its struggles, and we were concerned that we might not be able to be as generous as we’ve been in the past,” said Scott Ghelfi, president of the FRR, Inc. board of directors. “However, the family of Tommy Cochary has stepped up to help, making a generous donation to directly support this program, for which we are very grateful.”
The Tommy Cochary High School Mile, named after a Falmouth runner who lost his life in a drunk-driving accident, is run each year on the Kalperis track – which was recently refurbished after a donation by FRR, Inc. – as part of the Falmouth Track Festival the night before the 7-mile race. This year, because of the COVID-19 situation, the festival has been cancelled.
“Although we are disappointed in having to delay the 10th running of the Tommy Cochary High School Mile, we continue our mission to support students by increasing our contribution to Falmouth Road Race, Inc. for its scholarship awards,” said Liz Cochary Gross. “We know that the pandemic is putting extraordinary financial pressure on families and we don’t want this to limit the ability of Falmouth High School students to go to college. Our motto has been and will continue to be, “Make Smart Choices” while transitioning into the next phase of your lives. We look forward to making the celebration of the 10th annual Tommy Cochary High School Mile in the summer of 2021 even more inspiring.”
While the track events will be delayed until next summer, the New Balance Falmouth Road Race, originally scheduled for August 16, will be run virtually this year as an At-Home Edition, with registrants completing the race anytime from August 15-29 in their own neighborhoods. Entries are still available at falmouthroadrace.com. For runners or walkers who want to get their names printed on their bibs, which will be mailed along with the traditional race mug and other special giveaways, the registration deadline is June 24. Entrants will also be eligible to randomly receive one of the $35,000 in gift cards purchased by FFR, Inc. from local businesses to support them during the pandemic.
Entry is free to anyone interested in running or walking the race for a team in the race’s Numbers for Nonprofits Program, which last year raised a record $5.1 million for Massachusetts-based charities. Information and a list of nonprofit teams still accepting runners is available on the race website.
About Falmouth Road Race, Inc.
The New Balance Falmouth Road Race was established in 1973 and has become one of the premier running events of the summer season. Each year the race draws an international field of Olympians, elite and recreational runners out to enjoy the iconic 7-mile seaside course. The non-profit Falmouth Road Race organization is committed to promoting health and fitness through community programs and philanthropic giving.
