Fort Myers Daily

Inaugural Piper 5K, Fort Myers Benefit, The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida

This weekend was the inaugural Piper 5K in honor of three-year old Piper Buckley. The 5k was a huge success, around 800 runners showed up at the Gateway Community. The event started off with the runners and then the walkers and strollers. After the 5k, people enjoyed live music, food and awards! The proceeds went to benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The race honored the life and spirit of Piper Lynne Buckley who was born on Oct. 21, 2006 weighing only 3.9 lbs and spent 21 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The Children’s Hospital. Piper passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on Christmas Day of 2009 at only three years of age. Piper was the daughter of Realtor and former Florida Everblades star Tom Buckley and Mallie Montgomery retail store owner Heather Holland, both of Fort Myers. Piper served as The Boston Red Sox Children’s Hospital Celebrity Classic’s MVP (Most Valuable Patient) in 2008 which also supported the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Click below to see the photos taken by photographer Cameron Michael. Join the Piper Buckley Foundation Facebook Page.

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