Duval will run well-traveled roads to obscure cul-de-sacs as he hopes to raise at least $5,000 for Lorraine's Soup Kitchen.
Paul Duval kicks off his campaign to raise money for Lorraine's Soup Kitchen by running every street in Chicopee. The 70-day effort will end on Oct. 16, World Food Day.CHICOPEE – Paul Duval will run for food.
In fact he plans to run over every street, from well-traveled roads to obscure cul-de-sacs, hoping to raise awareness and donations for Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen.
Duval started his run on July 1 at the soup kitchen on Pendexter Avenue and made his way down the Willimansett streets of Lawndale, Dorrance, Greenwich, Bristol and Narragansett. His website, http://running-for-food. blogspot.com/, will update his daily route.
“I’m a runner, and I’m a Realtor. I thought it would be great if I ran the whole city and I would know the city better,” he said.
The 60-year-old Duval typically runs five days a week and has been doing so since he was in high school. He has run a number of marathons including those in Philadelphia, Boston, Nova Scotia, Vermont and Florida. The length of his runs depend on if he is training for marathons.
Duval contacted Kim Goulette, the director of the kitchen, who has been looking for new and creative ways to raise money for the kitchen. She endorsed the idea, which will come at a time when donations tend to be lower.
His plan is to run between three and four miles during the campaign, which will let him cover the more than 1,150 streets in the city by Oct. 16.
Recently he contacted the city engineering department who told him there is a total of 230 miles of city streets in Chicopee. Because there are a number of dead ends that Duval will have to run up and back, he estimated he will cover about 280 miles for the project.
To publicize his plans, he plans to put announcements that he is coming under street signs and other spots days before he runs through a particular street.
Duval’s goal is to raise at least $5,000. He does not plan to actually gather checks because it will be too difficult during the run and easier for the record-keeping at the soup kitchen if the money is mailed to them. He will carry some cards that will give the address and information on where to send donations, Duval said.
“Most of my runs well be between 6 and 7 (p.m.) since more people will be home around then,” he said.
Duval will not be alone in most of his runs. State Rep. Joseph F. Wagner, D-Chicopee, ran with him on the kick-off. Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette has agreed to join him, at least for a piece of the run and U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who is a long-time runner, has also agreed to join him but is still working out a date.
The girls’ track team from Holyoke Catholic High School has agreed to join him in a run in September and Duval plans to ask teams from Chicopee High and Chicopee Comprehensive High to join him as well.
“I’m going to ask all the city councilors as well,” he said.