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Health & Fitness

Bobby Coughlin Inspires Dedham Middle School to Make "Great Strides…"

 There are approximately 30,000 Americans living with Cystic Fibrosis. They are moms & dads, brothers & sisters, sons & daughters, friends & co-workers. For some, each day is a struggle “just to breathe.”

 Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system, causing the body to produce a thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and obstructs the pancreas, which hinders the ability to break down and absorb food.

 In the grand scheme of things, this number may not seem very high. However about 1,000 new cases of Cystic Fibrosis are diagnosed each year! In the 1950`s, few children with Cystic Fibrosis lived long enough to even make it to Elementary School…

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 Thanks to the tireless research and drug developments from the folks at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), all that has begun to change. Each year, more than 100,000 people participate in over 600 “Great Strides Walks” nationwide. The money these people raise has helped the mission of finding a cure, developing new therapies, and improving the quality of life for those affected.

 For the past 19 years here in Dedham, folks have participated in the CFF Great Strides Walk. Each year, the community has become more aware and gotten more involved. There are a number of local “teams” (almost three dozen now) that walk and collect “hundreds of thousands of dollars” for the cause.

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 Nowhere is there more support or a stronger show of force, than that for “Bobby`s Brigade.” Entering its twelfth year in 2014, Bobby`s Brigade is named after a charismatic young man named Bobby Coughlin. Son of Dedham`s Bob and Christine Coughlin, Bobby has always been a “well - known and well - loved boy” around Oakdale. Now a sixth grader at the Dedham Middle School, Bobby`s friends and acquaintances have grown this year in leaps and bounds. Bobby and his Oakdale Elementary School classmates have now been joined by boys and girls from all over town. The ranks of Bobby`s Brigade have swelled as well. There are now well over 100 walkers along with many more volunteers and families offering donations.

 This year, Bobby`s Middle School classmates and 6th grade teachers were joined by a second DMS team, representing some of the older students and the National Junior Honor Society. The combined teams raised some “tens of thousands of dollars” (totals not available) that accounted for the near quarter-million dollar goal set for our Town. With too many teams to mention, other noteworthy contributors included: Beth`s Friends, Deirdre`s Team, For Pete`s Sake, Team Alcresta, Gavin`s Group, Friends of Robby & Jessica, Walk for Steph, All for Allie, Team Isaiah, and Palermo Warriors.

 Ma Senator Mike Rush and his son James stopped by, to congratulate the Coughlin Family and wish Bobby their best.

 We met Maureen Palermo, who lost her three children (Dan, Mark and Lisa) to Cystic Fibrosis. She was joined by Christine D`Arrigo and her 90 year old mother Millie, along with nearly 40 other walkers.

 For the 15th consecutive year, Chuck Dello Iacono and his Chuck Wagon provided the food and drink. Before the walk got underway, Chuck and the crew held a moment of silence and proposed a toast for a longtime friend, Bob Norton, who passed away earlier this year. An open chair and spatula was placed next to the grills!

 Former Dedham resident Pat Lally and South Shore Entertainment provided the music and kept the party going for the 10th year.

 But it was the heart-felt thanks from Bob Coughlin that left everyone cheering, as he and wife Christine watched from the stage as Bobby`s Brigade and a sea of green shirts headed out from the Endicott Estate and worked their way around the streets of Dedham during this 4 mile celebration.

 As for 12 year old Bobby, wouldn`t you just know that it was him and a handful of his friends that were first to make it back to the field…  This fun-filled family event provided a healthy walk, food and festivities and was a great opportunity for people within our community to get involved in a worthy cause.

Story and Photos by: Joe Kilroy





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