New Dedham Fourth of July Road Race to Raise Money for Pediatric Cancer

Perhaps a new Fourth of July tradition will take hold Monday in Dedham.

Pushed forward by the Thirsty Irish Runners, a local running group, residents are expected to pound the pavement in a four-mile race that raises money for pediatric cancer research.

Called the “Four on the Fourth,” the race honors , an 11-year-old Dedham kid currently battling osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

“Ever since the Dedham Fourth of July race ended 6 years ago, I’ve been thinking about bringing an Independence Day road race back to town again,” said John McGourty, a founding member of the Thirsty Irish Runners. “I’ve always had the inspiration to do it, but it wasn’t until I learned that Sally had cancer that I had the motivation to make it a reality.”

Sally was diagnosed in May 2010 and has endured a year’s worth of chemotherapy, her father, Rob Naser, said.

“Funding research on these lesser occurring cancers is difficult,” Naser said of osteosarcoma research. “Essentially, the treatment for this disease has not changed in the past 20 years.”

The four-mile race will start and end at on Eastern Avenue. Race time is 9 a.m., and runners can register online.

“We want to show Sally and her family that they can count on the support of the TIRs and the whole Dedham community when they need us the most,” said McGourty.