Community Hero: Evan Butts / iBerkshires.com

LEE, Mass. — Although only living in the Berkshires for a few years, Evan Butts has already ingrained himself into the community. 

A server at the Italian restaurant Amici in West Stockbridge, Butts aims to helping others in his spare time, specifically with his journey raising funds for the charity Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. 

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy is one of the largest organizations in the state dedicated to advocating for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. 

Duchenne is a progressive muscle disease and is the most common form of muscular dystrophy diagnosed in childhood, said Nicole Herring, development and community engagement vice president of PPMD. 

“PPMD funds research, advocacy, care and education initiatives to help those with Duchenne live stronger, longer lives,” Herring said. 

It is his efforts for the organization that has earned Butts the June Community Hero of the Month designation. 

“For PPMD, a community hero is someone who steps forward to make a difference in the lives of those living with Duchenne that can be through advocacy work, bringing community members together, or through fundraising,” Herring said. 

“People like Evan Butts, who fundraise by by running races, are so important to our community because they combine empathy, conviction and passion together to help others.”

The four-day event brings together runners from around the world to raise money and awareness. Last year, it raised almost $300,000 for the organization.

The challenge consists of running progressively longer distances over four consecutive days.

Day one is 5 kilometers, day 2 is the 10K, day three is the half marathon, and finally, day four is the full marathon. 

This challenge requires significant training to build the endurance necessary to complete the consecutive daily races, which culminates in 48 miles, Butts said. 

“It’s just a really nice run to get the community involved … these kids aren’t able to really even stand, so it’s something that, if I can run and support them, is just something I’m really happy to do,” he said. 

Butts has committed to participate in 19 races this year through Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. He has also raced in several 5Ks in the Berkshires in an effort to spread the word about Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.

“Evan has blown us away with his commitment to running multiple races over the course of this year and next, in order to raise critical funds to support our mission. The funds raised by people like Evan are vital to keeping our work moving forward,” Herring said. 

“We’re so grateful for Evan, who brings so much enthusiasm to helping others and doing something great for the Duchenne community.”

Butts’ goal is to raise $10,000, which he acknowledges is a significant amount. However, he believes it is achievable.

“Any amount of money nowadays is support. We are losing funding daily for these kind of things, and any money to just go to these charities [and] anything to really just get awareness to muscular dystrophy is beneficial,” Butts said. 

In addition to the races, Butts emphasized how the owners of Amici, including Octavio Nallin, have allowed him to wear his Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy shirt and post a flyer about the organization at work. The flyer features a QR code for donations.

“When you walk into a Amici, there’s Evan — arms open, big, wide smile, most generous heart in the world, asking you how you are, asking you questions about yourself that make you feel like you just walked in to see a family member. You’re eating dinner in a place that’s just like home,” said Amy Brentano, owner of performance venue The Foundry in West Stockbridge.

Since moving here five years ago from Troy, N.Y.,  Butts said he has observed the giving and supportive atmosphere. 

“I would say someone living outside the Berkshires, if you want somewhere, to feel safe, feel seen, [or] feel heard, I think it’s a great community to live in,” he said. 

The community is comprised of numerous generous individuals, Butts said, highlighting an example when someone entered the restaurant and donated $200 based on the information from the flyer.

“I’m like, I have no idea who you are. You never said hello to me. So, just to get that random outreach of like, one sign changed a kid’s life, or changed someone’s life who has muscular dystrophy, is amazing,” Butts said. 

Butts also named several individuals who have inspired him including Tor Krautter of Jake’s Java and the stepfather of the late Sgt. Jacob Galliher. 

Krautter showed Butts how a community can come together and raise awareness of initiatives, and showcase the veterans in the community. Butts said he was on of the one first people he connected with and showed him that this community uplifted and really helped people out. 

Butts has also been inspired by Brentano, who has raised awareness of the arts and theaters in the community. 

“Evan is a genuine human being, and I cannot imagine what it takes for him to sacrifice by training and training and training to go run races, to raise funds for such a devastating disease, such as Duchenne disease,” Brentano said. “Evan believes in lifting everyone up. It’s clear when you meet him what kind of person he is.”

She said it takes dedication to balance work and the training for races that raise funds for charity.

“That’s a real hero, someone who sacrifices for the good of everyone. He’s a caring, lovely, funny, delightful human being, and all of us at The Foundry are really grateful to know him, to receive his support and to be able to support him. He’s a true hero in our community, and we’re lucky to have him,” she said. 

The Berkshires have shown Butts that he can accomplish anything with motivation and help from the community. It is this mindset that propelled him to start the work he has been doing. 

“I think moving here really opened my eyes to see what the community can actually be like,” he said. 

Butts possesses “the rare and courageous quality” of believing in a better world and taking action to improve it, said Kate Maguire, artistic director and CEO of Berkshire Theatre Group. “He’s incredibly hard working, and he makes a special effort to make people not only comfortable, but to make them feel brighter, brighter about the world at large, which is no easy feat these days. …

“In a world that often feels disgruntled and angry, what could be better than meeting someone who instantaneously makes one feel not only comfortable but better about one’s surroundings, about people. Evan gives me optimism in a world where we are greeted seemingly daily with negativism, he takes charge, and he doesn’t hesitate to act.”