Octavio Melo and his family are no strangers to running to raise money and awareness for some great organizations. Now, the Massachusetts native is back to run another Falmouth Road Race in 2024, his first as a member of Team JAF.
Running to help others has been a family affair that began for a very personal cause. After his son was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber Syndrome, Octavio’s wife started a Falmouth team in 2010, consisting of four people running for the Sturge-Weber Foundation. Octavio himself joined around 2014 and started to run as part of the team.
That experience sparked Octavio’s interest in running for health and wellness in general. He ran six or seven half marathons on his own. He later found himself back supporting charitable causes, running the Newport Marathon and Boston Marathon in honor of a friend battling Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).
It was in 2024, however, Octavio wanted to run the Falmouth Road Race on behalf of his sister, who was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years prior. Though his sister is thankfully now cancer-free, Octavio saw the toll a cancer diagnosis can have on a patient and their family. This time, he wanted to run for an organization where the dollars go further. And that’s where his connection to JAF came in.
Octavio was a longtime neighbor and friend of JAF Board Member Brent Crouch. They commuted to Boston together and spent numerous car rides talking about the Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF) and its mission. What really stands out to Octavio is the connection JAF has with the patients they help.
“[Their] mission is unique, not supporting research but supporting the patients with everyday expenses…The focus they have is really inspiring, one that not many organizations deliver.”
Inspired by JAF’s work, Octavio turned to his network of supporters, who have helped him raise money over all these years. They stepped up once again to help cancer patients in response to Octavio’s own inspiration.
“My inspiration for this race is my sister and her brave battle to successfully beat breast cancer. JAF was my organization of choice to fundraise for because of its unique mission to support patients and families in the way they do. The Falmouth Road Race is a race I have run several times for charity, and it is an honor to run for the JAF for the 2024 race.”
That community spirit will be back on display in Falmouth, as Octavio gives it another run, this time on behalf of his sister, and the Joe Andruzzi Foundation.