Vintage Santa Scamper t-shirt logo.
Photo credit: Maureen Larkin & David Reavill

The Parkway Running Club (PRC) of West Roxbury, MA has hosted an annual Santa Scamper 5k road race since 1994 supporting the Boston Globe Santa Fund. 

The race was renamed Walter’s Run in 2004 to honor the legacy of Walter Burgess, a friend, running partner, and community supporter whose kindness and dedication continue to inspire us.

In 2025, under the motto “WE Run Inspired,” we also celebrate another Parkway Running Club legend, Eddie Hastings. Like Walter, Eddie was a friend to all and devoted himself to serving others. His generosity and leadership helped connect the club to a new generation of runners. Together, we proudly carry their legacies forward as WE run.

Walter passed away suddenly in November 2003 at the age of 40 shortly after having completed the Great Floridian Ironman Triathlon. Walter was an active PRC member and an amazing athlete — forever working out either at the Y, on his bike, or running on the roads. More importantly, Walter was an incredible friend and inspiration. He was always there to run the slower members into the finish line, to organize the marathon long runs or group ski trip, to cheer others on, or to give us a big smile after a training run or race no matter the length.

The Boston Globe Santa fund was one of Walter’s favorite charities that he donated to regularly, even as a child. To more fully demonstrate Walter’s love of community and running, we have expanded the organizations receiving proceeds from Walter’s Run to include the YMCA Annual Fund Campaign and the Walter Burgess Scholarship Fund.

We dedicate this race to Walter Burgess.