MEDWAY — For Medway native Max Hundertmark, running the Falmouth Road Race is about much more than crossing the finish line—it’s an opportunity to give back to an organization that has long served his hometown.
Hundertmark, a recent college graduate and young professional, is one of 15 runners representing the Medway Village Food Pantry in this year’s Falmouth Road Race on August 16, helping raise money as the pantry works toward relocating to a more accessible permanent home.
His connection to the pantry dates back to high school, when he volunteered alongside his mother unloading deliveries from the Greater Boston Food Bank.
“I think it was really cool to see a community come together,” Hundertmark said. “People were willing to take time out of their day to help others, and that made a lasting impact on me.”
Now an avid runner, Hundertmark said combining his love of running with a cause close to home made perfect sense.
“I thought there was no better cause,” he said. “You can directly see the impact it’s having on people in the community I’ve lived in for 23 years.”
Hundertmark has steadily built up his running résumé over the past year, completing a half marathon and the Boston 10K while now training for his first marathon next spring. The seven-mile Falmouth Road Race presents a unique challenge, but one he’s eager to take on.
“I’ve heard the crowd in Falmouth is incredible,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to that atmosphere.”
He also takes pride in the fundraising efforts of the Medway Village Food Pantry team, noting that the group ranks among the event’s top fundraising teams despite consisting of just 15 runners.
Community members can support Hundertmark and the other runners by donating through the Falmouth Road Race fundraising page or attending upcoming fundraising events, including a Medway House of Pizza fundraiser on July 22, with a portion of sales benefiting the Medway Village Food Pantry’s Road Race team.
“It’s going back to people in the same community I grew up in,” Hundertmark said. “I take tremendous pride in that.”
