Fenway or Bust! Update on the Mainers Walking From South Portland to Fenway

This may be the feel-good moment of the summer. In 1973, Norm Payette, Wilbur Wildes, Ge Erskine, and Dave McHugh walked from South Portland to Fenway Park to raise money for the Jimmy Fund. Now, 48 years later, the children of these men are replicating that walk to pay homage to their Dads. Denise Payette-Holmes, Peter Wildes, Link Erskine, and Joe McHugh left South Portland at Noon on Tuesday and are making their way South.

Check out the kick-off at Wilkinson Park yesterday.

UPDATE; The crew got to Arundel, Maine, yesterday. About 10 miles ahead of where they thought they would land. A nice first day! Today, they hope to get to Wells. The fundraising is going really well too. The initial goal of $20,000 has been blown away, as has the updated goal of $30,000. So now, the Fantastic Four are shooting for 40k for the Jimmy Fund.

SUPPORT THE "FENWAY FOR OUR FATHERS" WALK AND DONATE HERE

The goal is to reach Fenway Park on Sunday, July 11, before the start of the game between the first-place Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. The fundraising walk to Fenway is called "Fenway For our Fathers,"  with 100% of the money raised going to the incredible Jimmy Fund, an organization that is near and dear to Mainers and the Red Sox. The Jimmy Fund supports Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, raising funds for adult and pediatric cancer care.

SUPPORT THE "FENWAY FOR OUR FATHERS" WALK AND DONATE HERE

SUPPORT THE "FENWAY FOR OUR FATHERS" WALK AND DONATE HERE

On the road again! Blisters for Bosox!

Why replicate this walk? From the Fenway For Our Fathers fundraising website:

Wilbur, Ge, and Norm have passed, Dave is still with us. Our father’s walk has been part of the legacy of each of our families, gaining stature through the years. We felt it was time to pay homage to them by the four of us retracing our father’s steps and recreate that walk, hopefully leaving behind a further legacy for our children and our children’s children.

Here's a photo of the "Original Four" that made the trek from South Portland to Fenway in 1973. Legends all!

According to Google Maps, the distance is 109 miles with a total walking time of around 36 hours. Of course, the quartet will not be doing this all at once, but more likely over four days. So, to this intrepid crew from Maine, we say, Good Luck, stay safe, and see you at the ballpark!