I don't need to remind everyone of the events surrounding the Boston Marathon last April, because SoSH was there. Members ran the race, or volunteered, or watched from the crowd. People we love were injured or lost. And during the days that followed, as we tried to process what happened and watched subsequent events unfold, we did something remarkable about it: we raised $16,000 for the One Fund, starting even before there was a One Fund, due to the efforts of some awesome and dedicated people. At the time, many members expressed a desire to do more in the future. One particular suggestion was to sponsor a team of SoSH runners in the 2014 Boston Marathon. Today I want to pick up on that idea and carry it forward.
On Patriots Day I was volunteering as a Runner Guide for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team, which meant standing at the end of the runner chute that begins at the finish line and lets out on Berkeley Street, two blocks away. I haven't qualified for Boston yet but I was getting close, and I wanted to be a part of the day, even if I wasn't running. And I had several friends who were running, so I hoped to see them too. I was expecting to escort tired DFMC runners back to the Marriott where DFMC had their team recovery area. Before any of our runners arrived, however, the bombs went off. We were close enough to hear them, but not close enough to understand what had happened. What semblance of order there was at the end of the chute, where we stood along side waiting families, all jostling to find their runners, vanished completely. Meanwhile, there I was, in a brightly colored shirt with VOLUNTEER written across it. Suddenly, people were walking up to me asking for help: to use my phone, to ask for directions, or just to find out what was going on. The way I was raised, I was taught that in situations like this, you do what you can, so I did. I spent the afternoon escorting out-of-town runners back to their hotels, including this chipper 65-year-old Canadian woman who had run like a 4:01 and was still super spry afterwards. All while texting people to let them know I was okay, and trying to follow the news on Twitter and here on SoSH. I made some friends among my fellow volunteers that day, and I was very impressed with how the DFMC staffers handled everything. I decided then that I couldn't think of a better finish to running my first Boston marathon than to see them waiting for me at the end of that chute next April.
That's my story, and that's why I've applied to run for DFMC next spring. I have reached out to every SoSH marathoner I know, and so far I have two maybes and one yes, from someoneanywhere, who is also applying to DFMC. Given SoSH's epic fundraising history, I think we can easily support 4-6 runners. So firstly, we're looking for teammates. If you've already got a bib for 2014 from the BAA, well, first of all you're amazingly fast so good for you, but secondly, join us. If you want to run and need a bib, there is a host of charity teams, but you'll have to act soon, because demand for charity bibs will be through the roof (as such I don't think we all necessarily need to run for Dana Farber). Even if you've never run a marathon before, join up and the Running Dogs will train you from couch to 26.2 if that's what it takes.
We're not looking for any donations or pledges at this point. But is this something we as a community want to do? Our fundraising prowess has been both impressive and growing by the year. If I have my numbers correct: about $30,000 for the Jimmy Fund in 2010, $40,000 for the Jimmy Fund in 2011 in honor of John Wells, and over $44,000 for the STATS truck last year. So far this year there's the $16,000 to the One Fund. I think we've got another big number in us.
What do you say, SoSH?
On Patriots Day I was volunteering as a Runner Guide for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team, which meant standing at the end of the runner chute that begins at the finish line and lets out on Berkeley Street, two blocks away. I haven't qualified for Boston yet but I was getting close, and I wanted to be a part of the day, even if I wasn't running. And I had several friends who were running, so I hoped to see them too. I was expecting to escort tired DFMC runners back to the Marriott where DFMC had their team recovery area. Before any of our runners arrived, however, the bombs went off. We were close enough to hear them, but not close enough to understand what had happened. What semblance of order there was at the end of the chute, where we stood along side waiting families, all jostling to find their runners, vanished completely. Meanwhile, there I was, in a brightly colored shirt with VOLUNTEER written across it. Suddenly, people were walking up to me asking for help: to use my phone, to ask for directions, or just to find out what was going on. The way I was raised, I was taught that in situations like this, you do what you can, so I did. I spent the afternoon escorting out-of-town runners back to their hotels, including this chipper 65-year-old Canadian woman who had run like a 4:01 and was still super spry afterwards. All while texting people to let them know I was okay, and trying to follow the news on Twitter and here on SoSH. I made some friends among my fellow volunteers that day, and I was very impressed with how the DFMC staffers handled everything. I decided then that I couldn't think of a better finish to running my first Boston marathon than to see them waiting for me at the end of that chute next April.
That's my story, and that's why I've applied to run for DFMC next spring. I have reached out to every SoSH marathoner I know, and so far I have two maybes and one yes, from someoneanywhere, who is also applying to DFMC. Given SoSH's epic fundraising history, I think we can easily support 4-6 runners. So firstly, we're looking for teammates. If you've already got a bib for 2014 from the BAA, well, first of all you're amazingly fast so good for you, but secondly, join us. If you want to run and need a bib, there is a host of charity teams, but you'll have to act soon, because demand for charity bibs will be through the roof (as such I don't think we all necessarily need to run for Dana Farber). Even if you've never run a marathon before, join up and the Running Dogs will train you from couch to 26.2 if that's what it takes.
We're not looking for any donations or pledges at this point. But is this something we as a community want to do? Our fundraising prowess has been both impressive and growing by the year. If I have my numbers correct: about $30,000 for the Jimmy Fund in 2010, $40,000 for the Jimmy Fund in 2011 in honor of John Wells, and over $44,000 for the STATS truck last year. So far this year there's the $16,000 to the One Fund. I think we've got another big number in us.
What do you say, SoSH?