By Theresa Knapp 

Leah Hodgdon has received approval from the Select Board to create a 5K in memory of her father, David, who died in February 2020 from stage four gallbladder cancer. 

“One of the things he loved doing, and that brought us together as a family, was running,” Hodgdon, a freshman at Hopedale Junior-Senior High School, said in her request to the Select Board. “Because of this, I would love to organize a 5k walk/run in his honor, with all of the proceeds benefiting the Dana-Farber Cancer Center (where he was treated).” 

While the course has yet to be finalized, the hope is to start at Draper Field, run along the bridge past the former Draper Mill, continue to the Parklands, run the Parklands loop, and emerge right by the entrance to Draper field. Runners would run onto the field where they began, which would be 3.1 miles. 

Hodgdon is planning the event for June 25 and is now working with other town departments to help with the process. 

The Select Board unanimously approved the request at its Jan. 10 meetin