Community Corner

Medfield Community to Walk for Olivia Saturday

The second annual Walk for Olivia event to help Medfield's Olivia Bonfilio fight through a rare form of leukemia will be held Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. at the Medfield High School track.

to help the 10-year-old Medfield resident and her family as she battles a rare form of leukemia.

This Saturday, the Medfield community will come together again for Olivia, as friends and family organize the second annual walk-a-thon event, which will begin at noon at the Medfield High School track.

"The 'Walk for Olivia' was a huge success," Kathleen Kelley Bonfilio said following last year's event. "Our guest of honor, Olivia, was able to be there with her parents Al and Lauri Bonfiio from Medfield. Sitting at the reception table, I was able to get an estimated count of people coming or just dropping off a donation and that [number was] over 700 people. Truly amazing and inspiring. The rain held back and the walk was fantastic."

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This year's event will be held rain or shine. There will be shirts, bracelets, face painting, DJ Mike and a raffle. Donations are gratefully accepted through Dedham Institute for Savings, Elm Street, Dedham, MA 02026. Tax ID Number available upon request. You can register on the day of the event.

More About Olivia

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Editor's note: Patch contributor Theresa Knapp wrote the following about Olivia Bonfilio:

Olivia Anne Bonfilio was born on Nov. 13, 2001, one day after her father's birthday. She came into this world as most infants do - crying and her arms and legs kicking.  She was greeted by her mom, Lauri (Lyman), her father, Alfred, her stepbrother, Jared, and her brother, Alfred IV, and has lived in Medfield her entire life.

"Livie" started school in Medfield at age five and did all the things that little girls do; She was a Girl Scout Brownie, danced, played soccer, and rough-housed with her brothers. Upon starting the third grade with her fellow classmates, no one was to know that in just two short months her world would change dramatically.  

One week before her ninth birthday, she was taken to the doctor by her parents as she had lost a tooth that would not clot. Her pediatrician was concerned enough to have Olivia taken to Norwood Hospital, and then further rushed to Children's Hospital in Boston. She was diagnosed with a rare form of APML Leukemia.  

Olivia remained in the hospital throughout Thanksgiving and, while losing her hair, spent her ninth Christmas at Children’s as well.

Olivia started her fourth round of Chemotherapy, was doing considerably well and was looking forward to her return to school. Suddenly,  she developed an infection in her blood that required her to be sedated and intubated. She returned to the ICU at Children’s. In keeping with her name, "Liv" fought hard and was extubated in April to her parents’ – and all her family's – relief.  As of April 25, Olivia was still in the ICU. 

The family has had tremendous support from local families, friends, and neighbors, police, Cops for Kids with Cancer, The Visiting Angels of Medfield, various churches and the Medfield schools.

So put on your walking shoes and "Walk for Olivia" for a great cause. Follow the Olivia Foundation on Facebook by clicking here.


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