Bedford's Nashoba Learning Group Prepare For 5K Fundraiser Run

The Burlington Board of Selectmen on Monday approved the Leprechaun 5K Shuffle and Fun Run to benefit the Nashoba Learning Group, a Bedford school for students with autism. 

Registration for the run begins at 8:30 a.m. at Burlington High School on Sunday, March 17. The run begins at 10 a.m.

According to an event listing on Burlington Patch, the entry fee for the fundraising run is $20. There will also be a half-mile fun run at the school. 

Though no member of the Burlington Selectmen disagreed with the spirit and purpose of the fundraiser, there were some concerns at the meeting about the timing.

Burlington Town Adminstrator John Petrin said that a group coming in with a proposal less than a week before the event puts the town in a difficult position.

Petrin said the main concern was the safety of the runners. The route will include Cambridge Street, Lexington Street and Bedford Street, three busy roads. Petrin explained that his concern is that if it snows or if rain or snow melt freezes in the days before the race, that could cause safety concerns. Also, if it snows over the weekend, there are no guarantees the Burlington Department of Public Works will clear the sidewalks in time.

"I can’t commit to having sidewalks done depending on the weather," he said. "If we get snow by the end of week or if it ices overnight, we have the chance of people running on ice."

The event organizers agreed to cancel or postpone the run if the weather presents adverse conditions.

As of Monday night, the National Weather Service was forecasting mostly sunny skies with a high near 39 degrees for Sunday.

In the end the board voted to allow the fundraiser.

According to the organization's web site, the Nashoba Learning Group provides individualized education, training and intervention services for 90 students aged 3 to 22 with Autism Spectrum disorders so that they can achieve their potential and become productive members of society throughout their lives. 

The Nashoba Learning Group is developing an Adult Day Program to open in 2013 and provide ongoing job and community support to adults with Autism.

Click here for more information on the fundraiser run.