The 2009 Race Results Are In!

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Overall results (pdf) ►

Top 10 male and female results (pdf) ►

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Medical Center 6K

Past Course Winners and Record Holders

2009 6K Grand Marshal Story

Getting Help from Their Friends

Kristy Ostrowski knows what it is like to travel to a hospital, day after day after day. She and her husband John have done it many times for their three year old son Zachary. With two other young children, traveling to medical appointments can be a challenge.

Kristy, a runner and mother of three, was recently selected The 2009 Grand Marshal of the Medical Center 6K.

This year, proceeds from the race will go to support the “Patient Transportation Fund at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center,” for local patients who need help with transportation to medical appointments including chemotherapy and radiation. For patients and their families who are unable to drive or can’t afford the cost of a ride, simply getting to the hospital or a medical appointment can be impossible.

“We have weathered many hospitalizations with Zack and we’ve been lucky,” she says. “In a hard economy, people who need medical care sometimes don’t have the ability to get to it. We travel every 6-8 weeks to Massachusetts General Hospital and I know how high the gas, tolls and parking can be. It’s important that other people do not have to think about transportation—no matter what their medical issue. A cause like this will help take the burden off them.”

Born with Down syndrome, Zachary had both heart and colon surgery in his first seven weeks of life. The little guy with the broad smile has had over 10 minor procedures since that time and is getting ready for a triple hernia operation soon.

“We had friends who sent us gas cards when we were going through Zack’s early weeks,” Kristy adds. “They couldn’t be there, so they helped any way they could. I can’t imagine what it would have been like not to be able to see my son. With a new pediatric gastroenterologist at MassGeneral for Children here in Nashua, I hope it will cut down the traveling for families whose children need to see pediatric specialists.”

An avid swimmer through high school at Notre Dame Academy in Tyngsboro and at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, Kristy and her husband John took up competitive running after their third child, Ryan was born.

“We run to raise awareness about medical services,” she smiles. “We started with the Bedford Memorial 5K road race and we got the bug. Last July we ran in the Hollis 5K and in October we ran the Lowell Sun Half Marathon. After The Medical Center 6K, we will be taking on the Reach the Beach 200 mile relay with nine friends to raise money for Zack’s clinic at MassGeneral. Our website is www.pirpfundraising.com.”

“When Zack was first born we lived in Delaware and for four weeks we traveled 100 miles each way to the hospital most days,” she says. “Our daughter Emily was at home so we switched off staying with Zack days and nights—that meant together we drove 400 miles each time. If I can help raise money for people to get to the care they need, I will feel that I have started to give something back and that is what makes this all worthwhile.”