During the fourth annual Freed to Run marathon series, Gunster law firm shareholder Mike Freed completed six marathons in six days Nov. 16-21, helping Jacksonville Area Legal Aid raise more than $400,000 for its Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership.
In four years, Freed to Run has raised $1.44 million toward a planned $2.25 million endowment that supports in perpetuity the partnership between JALA and area hospitals to benefit pediatric patients and their families who need civil legal assistance but cannot afford to hire an attorney.
Through the partnership, legal aid attorneys each year help hundreds of young patients at Northeast Florida health care institutions access health benefits, special education accommodations and adequate housing, among other needs.
Members of 14 teams ran with Freed, if not alongside him.
Some ran their marathon relays along the route. Others ran remotely on treadmills to maintain social distancing. Each team collected donations that will be matched at 125% by Baptist Health through its foundation.
Major sponsors this year were AT&T, Elite Parking Services, the Fannin Johnson Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, Florida Blue, Gunster, the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation, Nemours and VyStar Credit Union.
Retired Circuit Judge Hugh Carithers, Drs. Ali and Nayla Chahlavi and Richard Fannin co-chaired the event.