Santa's Miles for Miracles

Santa Claus will be putting on his running shoes to run a marathon a day from Boston to New York City to spread Christmas cheer by helping change lives through mobility by running on behalf of the American Wheelchair Mission to help distribute much needed wheelchairs for those who cannot afford them, including elderly and disabled veterans, children’s hospitals, volunteer ambulance units, churches and the poor.  

Santa (a/k/a Tom McGrath), is an ultrarunner, bar owner, and recovering alcoholic who is collaborating with the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of Hibernians hopes to gather donations to purchase wheelchairs at a cost of  $150 per wheelchair for every mile of his 225-mile journey.  So far Santa has raised enough to cover the cost 60 wheelchairs.  Santa needs your help.  Donations of all levels are welcomed at the American Wheelchair Mission website.   

 About Tom McGrath
In 1977, Tom broke the Trans-Am world record, running from New York to San Francisco in 53 days.  He became a staple in the New York area for running six marathons in six days, year after year, to bring shoes to kids in need.  Three years in a row, he looped the reservoir in Central Park for 1,000 miles to help various charities.  He was also the winner of the very first 24-hour race in Ireland and in '96 was chosen as a torch bearer for the Olympic Games.  Tom is the owner of the Black Sheep Restaurant in New York City.   

A documentary on Tom’s ups and downs titled “Every Five Minutes” recently won the best short documentary at the Big Apple Film Festival and “The Black Sheep,” a book on his life, was published in 2016.  Preview the documentary at:  https://www.facebook.com/TomBlackSheep/videos/315527445471096/

 Santa left Boston on Dec. 1st.  Santa will make stops along the route in Stafford, CT on Monday December 4th, , Hartford, CT on Tuesday December 5th , New Haven, CT at the Knights of Columbus Museum on December 6th  and Greenwich, CT on Thursday December 7th.  Santa will end his journey at the historic Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral on Friday, December 8th.  The will be a film and talk at each stop.   

About the American Wheelchair Mission
The American Wheelchair Mission is a non-profit organization with a goal to deliver brand new, free wheelchairs and mobility aids to physically disabled children, teens and adults throughout the world who are without mobility or the means to acquire a wheelchair.  https://amwheelchair.org/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkMPLMfm8pU
 

Tom left Boston on Dec. 1st and will arrive in New York City on the 8th.  Fundraisers will be held along the route in Stafford, CT, Hartford, CT, New Haven, CT, and Stratford, CT.  Santa is available for interviews!