A group of Hopkinton residents with the support of the 26.2 Foundation and Unibank have joined force to sponsor an event to help raise funds for the Bobbi Gibb Marathon Sculpture Project on Wednesday, April 13, at the Hopkinton Country Club, 204 Saddle Hill Road, Hopkinton, MA.

2016 marks the 50th anniversary of Gibb’s historic Boston Marathon run as the first woman to complete the course. Gibb, an accomplished painter and sculptor who studied at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, is now poised to create a life-size sculpture of a woman runner to represent all of the powerful women who have run Boston since 1966.

Attendees will have to opportunity to meet and mingle with Gibb and other Boston Marathon champions who are supporting the sculpture project, including Amby Burfoot, the 1968 winner and Runner’s World Editor at Large, and the legendary four-time winner of the Boston Marathon Bill Rodgers. Burfoot will also be available for a book signing of his latest book, “First Ladies of Running”. “We believe it is long past time to recognize the Boston Marathon’s great women runners,” says Tim Kilduff, of the 26.2 Foundation. “The fact that Boston’s first woman runner is also a great sculptor makes this project absolutely unique and appropriate."

There will be two separate, but related events; a VIP cocktail party from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. The charge for admission is a $100 and includes hor d'oeuvres, 1 drink and a poster created specifically for the event by Hopkinton artist Buff Spencer and autographed by Gibb. The general event is from 7:00pm to 8:30pm and will include guest speakers, a cash bar and dessert for $20. Seating is limited for both events, so early reservation are recommended.

All proceeds to benefit the Bobbi Gibb Marathon Sculpture Project. Additional donations for this project can be made at http://www.firstgiving.com/5280_1/bobbi-gibb-fundraiser.