Freed to Run, now in its third year, has so far registered 22 relay teams that will run six marathons between Tallahassee and Jacksonville Dec. 15-20 to help pediatric patients access civil legal help.
Last year, 17 relay teams ran alongside Gunster shareholder Mike Freed with daily stops at county courthouses on a route between the steps of the state Supreme Court and the Duval County Courthouse.
The event benefits an endowment for the Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership, through which each year Jacksonville Area Legal Aid staff and volunteer attorneys counsel about 200 pediatric patients and their families.
They offer help with legal issues such as access to health coverage, educational accommodations and safe housing matters.
JALA pledged to raise $1 million in donations for the endowment over five years, with the funds matched at 125% by Baptist Health, for a total of $2.25 million that will sustain the program in perpetuity.
Freed ran all six marathons alone in 2017 and last year began to run them alongside relay teams which tackle a single marathon.
The teams, each of which has set an individual fundraising goal, comprise Gunster; Florida Blue; Community First Credit Union; Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball; JAX Chamber; Jacksonville Bar Association Solo & Small Firms Committee; Abel Bean Law; Harrell & Harrell; Akerman LLP; The Truck Accident Law Firm; The Pajcic Smith Group | Merrill Lynch; Forbes & Gilham; Smoak Davis & Nixon; State Attorney’s Office for the 4th Judicial Circuit; The Defenders, Office of Public Defender Charlie Cofer; Women’s Giving Alliance; University of North Florida School of Music; Jacksonville University; Team Bowzer; Pavement Killers; JALA staff; and the JALA board of directors.
Visit jaxlegalaid.org/freedtorun/ to make a donation.