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Edaville Rail Run
South Carver Massachusetts
5-mile Trail Run & 2-mile Fun Run
To benefit the 'Dorine Merritt Memorial Fund'
The race is staged and run by Donna Merritt Cohen and Colonial Road Runners
Copyright 2006-2008 - Edaville Rail Run - All Rights Reserved
Photos: Richard Archbold - MPG Newspapers
The Dorine Merritt Memorial Fund
Dorine Merritt
On November 5th, 1972, our sister Dorine was killed in a car accident 50 yards from our home in South Carver. She was only 18 and a freshmen at New England Baptist School of Nursing. She had come home for the weekend, and it was a night we won't ever forget. As a result of the accident the scholarship fund was formed.
Dorine was the second of seven - Mike is the first, then Dorine, Sandy, Me, (Donna) Sonya, Judy and David. She was very outgoing and always had a guy following her. Though she was five years older than me - and that was a lot when you're only 12 - we made some wonderful memories.
I will never forget being able to visit her at school. Going into Boston at 12 was a major deal and staying the weekend at a college was an even bigger deal! The thing I'll always remember is Dorine showing me her Science lab - including her bucket with frogs she was going to be dissecting!!! She was such a hard worker and proved this when the Youth Group at the United Parish loaded wood onto a dilapidated truck, drove it to Myles Standish State Forest, and the sold the wood to campers. They worked hard to unload as much wood as the campers needed.
Along with being a hard worker, Dorine showed compassion. Mr. Sprague, a Carver resident had had an accident breaking almost every bone in his body. Dorine and other Carver teens organized a walk-a-thon to raise money for his family. The walk was 20 miles and hundreds came, making a difference for the Sprague family.
A scholarship fund in her memory was established by the United Parish, friends and family. The early years of the scholarship money was raised with a 20-mile walk-a-thon. The funds raised were given to a Carver resident going into his/her second or third year of college in memory of Dorine. Special consideration is given to a student studying nursing because this was Dorine's interest. Twenty miles was the goal for the walk and for many years it was successful.
Time passed and we decided to raise money a new way. Fellow runners can understand my desire to start a road race. In November of 2000 we held the first Edaville Rail Run after organizing it in only 3 months! We are now on our sixth and feel the future is bright with more money raised every year to be given out in scholarships.
Why Edaville? We Merritt's, are from Carver. Our Dad grew up here in Edaville in the house across from the gazebo, and our Grandfather helped lay the tracks of the train. Dorine and Sandy both worked here and we all rode the train every Christmas season. We would also come over and skate on Swan Pond during the festival - the Christmas music in the background setting the mood and giving us tons of fun. Our connection to the location enhances the special feeling of raising money for a loved one.
We thank you for participating in our race - whether as a volunteer or a runner/walker. Because of you, we are able to keep Dorine's memory and spirit alive. Because of you, we are able to help another person fulfill their dream of finishing college.
Thank you so very much. Enjoy the race and see you next year!
Donna Merritt Cohen
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Scholarship Information
If you are interested in applying for the scholarship, please click here to download the application.
