Johnny Kelley Races

About Johnny Kelley Races...A legendary hero of the Boston Marathon, Johnny Kelley ran his entire life. He was born in West Medford, MA as one of ten children. His first race was a 100-yard dash in a Boston park at the age of 11 for the vaunted prize of a piece of candy. He lost to his brother Jim. In high school, he ran both track and cross-country.

His first attempt at the Boston Marathon was in 1928. He went on to run the Boston Marathon a record 61 times up until the age of 84. In that time, he won twice and finished in second place seven times. In 1936, his drop from front-runner to fifth-place finisher inspired the nickname "Heartbreak Hill" for the final leg of the race.

He made the US Olympic marathon team three times. His prolific running career resulted in him being named "Runner of the Century" by Runner's World magazine in 2000. At the age of 70, he was still running 50 miles a week and around 15 races each year.

He moved to Cape Cod in 1972. When he passed away at the age of 97, he was laid to rest in East Dennis, MA. The Cape Cod Johnny Kelley races are a tribute to Massachusetts' Marathon Man.

Johnny was a Cape Cod resident and loved Cape Cod.

Beneficiaries: Chips House and Tommy's Place.

Chip's House: At the Cape Head Injured Persons' Housing and Education Group, Inc. (Chips House), people with closed head injuries are part of a community based on dignity, the highest possible level of independence and an improved quality of life. The life of a physically active person can change in the blink of an eye with the squeal of a tire or the errant flight of a heavy object. Chips House works to provide support services to disabled individuals so they can live to their fullest potential with care and dignity. Chips House provides long-term housing that is safe and tasteful in a unique home atmosphere instead of an institutional setting.

Tommy's Place: The whole family is affected when a child is fighting cancer. It is a physically and emotionally draining ordeal. Tommy's Place was created to give kids impacted by cancer a fun, vacation experience with their whole family. Each beneficiary family will stay at Tommy's Place free-of-charge for a week. There they will relax, create memories and have fun! Amenities will include an in-ground pool, a game room, home theater and tavern, music, arts and crafts room and enough space for the whole family!