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Boston Marathon 2022: See Why Patch Readers Run
Patch interviewed 33 Boston Marathon runners in 15 towns across Massachusetts and Rhode Island to find out what causes they're running for.
BOSTON — The Boston Marathon is about so much more than completing the fastest time possible. For many participants, it's about raising money and awareness for causes they care about.
Over the last month, Patch sought to find out which of its readers are lacing up the running shoes on Patriots Day and what inspired them to tackle the 26.2 mile road race. Patch interviewed 33 athletes from 15 communities throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Check out their stories below and why they run for the causes they do:
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Belmont
David Somers
David Somers is a Belmont father of three and professor at Boston University. He is running the Boston Marathon to raise money for the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. Two of Somer's daughters have Type 1 diabetes. Somers said he is running to support his daughters but also for himself, as he has had his own health struggles with Type 2 diabetes.
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"It's partly for me to keep my health in check and to celebrate what I can do now that I couldn't do a few years ago," Somers said.
Braintree
Sarah Burke
Sarah Burke will run the Boston Marathon for the Boston Children's Hospital team, Miles For Miracles. Specifically, she's running in honor of Eli Blumburg, a Weymouth boy who lost a two-year battle with an inoperable brain tumor at age 6.
"It is my duty to honor Eli in the best way I can," Burke said. "My goal is to spread Eli's loving, positive and joyful impact he brought to me and many others in the short time he had here with us. I truly wish everyone could have meant this beautiful soul. I run for hope, and fundraise for families, so they do not have to say goodbye to little souls like Eli. It's simply not fair."
Read more about Sarah Burke here.
Dawn Walsh
Dawn Walsh of Braintree will be running to defy cancer as a member of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team in the 126th Boston Marathon on April 18.
Brookline
Eric Emmons and David Krakauer
Brookline residents Eric Emmons and David Krakauer will be running the 126th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 18 for Pine Street Inn, the largest homeless services provider in New England.
"With a 95% retention rate in housing, Pine Street Inn has demonstrated that permanent supportive housing is the solution to homelessness," reads Emmons' fundraising page. "The pandemic has reinforced the importance of housing as a social determinant of health. Thank you for your support of Team Pine Street!"
Read more about Eric Emmons and David Krakauer
East Providence
Maurice Lowman
Last year, Maurice Lowman raised more than $14,000 for the Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts and ran while wearing a blazer and dress pants. He's running for Team Rhett again on Monday.
"I just have a ton of gratitude for the role as a charity runner," Lowman said. "To be able to be part of a community for those who can't run and give a voice to those in the community is a privilege."
Read more about Maurice Lowman here.
Alex Pease
Rumford resident Alex Pease is a clinical pharmacist at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, and he's about to take his passion to another level when he runs the 2022 Boston Marathon for Team Joslin.
"I got my Joslin swag, and I'm excited to be a part of the team," Pease said.
Read more about Alex Pease here.
Hopkinton
Katharine Brummett
Hopkinton Middle School art teacher Katharine Brummett has two rhythms that run through her life - her passion for running and her love of the arts, particularly art and music. The Upton resident is now able to combine these priorities by running in the Boston Marathon on April 18 to support the Hopkinton Music Association.
"I know for some of my students, the community that they have from being involved in music is so important," she stressed. "It feels really good to be giving back to that program in a way that's special to me."
Read more about Katharine Brummett here.
Chris Ocampo
Chris Ocampo, the assistant principal of Hopkinton Middle School, takes positive steps forward in everything he does, whether it's working with students or volunteering in the community. Now the Framingham resident is also making strides for a more inclusive Hopkinton by running in the Boston Marathon on April 18 to support the Hopkinton Freedom Team.
"Their work is very much about bringing people together," Ocampo explained. "And combatting racism is something that I fully support. Being in the schools and embedded in the schools, I'm proud to be able to run for an organization that is kind of an extension of what we do here at the school to try to combat racism and address some of the issues that we're having in the community."
Marblehead
David Welch
A Marblehead native is returning home from half a world away to run the Boston Marathon and raise money for the Joslin Diabetes Center. David Welch, who grew up in Marblehead and now lives and works in Singapore as a global finance portfolio manager, will be part of Team Joslin working for a cure for diabetes in honor of his 7-year-old son, Austin, who was also diagnosed with the disease.
"Boston is a special race. Growing up there, going to school there, it's always cool to join forces with Joslin," he said. "I'm always looking forward to coming back and doing it again. Austin gives me extra motivation for running for a good cause."
Read more about David Welch here.
Marlborough
Cristiane Pepper
Cristiane Pepper is no stranger to road races, from 5Ks to half-marathons to full marathons. But her first Boston Marathon run this year will be much different from any other race she's competed in. Pepper, of Marlborough, will be running to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. Pepper's son, Ethan, died in January 2020 after a battle with synovial sarcoma.
"Through dozens of surgeries, months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, he never complained. Even at the end, he was more worried about us than he was about himself. I will carry the memory of that strength with me to help me when it feels like I can't go on," she wrote on her fundraiser page.
Read more about Cristiane Pepper here.
Marlborough business owner Judy Proteau is no stranger to running marathons, but this will be her first ever Boston Marathon. Proteau, owner of the Elegant Flower, will run the marathon this year to raise money for the Michael Lisnow Respite Center in Hopkinton, which serves scores of families across the area with support programs for individuals with disabilities.
"Your donation to the Lisnow Center will help pay for programs that children can attend during the day that will provide them with medical treatments, music, crafts and physical activity," Proteau wrote in an appeal. "Young adults attending the program learn daily living and social skills — all important for fostering a sense of independence. Many of these young people are introduced to employment options all centered on increasing self-confidence and responsibility."
Read more about Judy Proteau here.
Milford
Jeffrey Hopkins
Milford marathoners this year will take part in a Boston Marathon like no other. Milford has several representatives in the April 18 race, including Milford Regional ER head Dr. Jeffrey Hopkins. He's running in the 2022 Boston Marathon to raise money for the Milford Regional Healthcare Foundation. He decided to run the marathon in honor of coworkers who worked with him through the pandemic.
"For the past 2 years, the entire staff at Milford Regional Medical Center has been engaged in a unique marathon of its own; battling a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic that has strained our healthcare system to the max, Hopkins said. "Despite the never-ending arrival of incredibly sick patients and continual curve balls this virus has hurled our way, I've been inspired by the perseverance, dedication, and endurance of our staff."
Read more about Jeffrey Hopkins here.
Newton
Kate Gilmartin, Marisa Salvucci, Rachel Wolfberg, Myles Wynn, Scott Zoback and Ryan Sylvia
Six Newton residents will be running as members of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team in the 126th Boston Marathon, which will be held on April 18.
Kate Gilmartin, Marisa Salvucci, Rachel Wolfberg, Myles Wynn, Scott Zoback, and Ryan Sylvia are joining over 500 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge teammates from across the United States and around the world to collectively raise $5.5 million. The team will run in-person this year and will also offer the option of running virtually.
Suzanne Keohan
Newton resident Suzanne Keohane will run the 126th Boston Marathon on April 18 to raise critical funds and awareness in the fight to end Alzheimer's disease. Keohane is running the 26.2-mile race as a member of Team End ALZ on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter. She will run in honor of her father, Hank, who lost his battle with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia in August 2021.
"Marathon Monday was one of my dad's favorite days of the year," said Keohane in a statement. For half a century, the Keohanes have cheered on the runners at mile 12 in Natick. My dad was known for his fist pumps and his 'Hutta Go' or 'Guts Ball' cheers. This year, a family high-five at mile 12 will mean everything to me."
Read more about Suzanne Keohan here.
Kerri Bisaga
Kerri Bisaga, a special education teacher and reading specialist at Newton South High School, is running the 2022 Boston Marathon on Monday, April 18 for the Newton Schools Foundation.
"I grew up in the area, and was always enamored with all of the strong female runners I saw out and about, training and racing," Bisaga said on her fundraising page. "As early as elementary school, I decided that I wanted to be a woman who runs! I struggled with some tough health issues following high school, and started running as a way to build back my strength and reconnect with my body."
Read more about Kerri Bisaga here.
North Kingstown
Tim Larson
In 2019, North Kingstown resident Tim Larson, 36, ran his first Boston Marathon, and he ran for Boston's Children's Hospital's Miles For Miracles team. Larson ran for Drystan, a boy who was battling cancer. Larson said Drystan is healthy and in high school now. And that experience inspired him to run the Boston Marathon again in April, this time for a cause that hits close to home.
"It doesn't get any closer to home than my next-door neighbors, and their amazing daughter Keira,"
Read more about Tim Larson here.
Bonnie Sawyer
North Kingstown resident Bonnie Sawyer says she's not a runner, but that won't stop her from giving the 2022 Boston Marathon a go for a good cause. Sawyer, 53, will run to raise money for the Herren Project, a national addiction nonprofit based in Tiverton and started by Rhode Island resident and former Boston Celtics player Chris Herren. Sawyer is the executive director for the Herren Project and has been involved with the organization for 10 years.
"I have seen so much pain and grief over the years, as well as incredible stories of hope and healing," Sawyer said. "To me, there was no more powerful way to celebrate my 10 years with HP than to run for all of these men and women who have touched my life over the past 10 years. Their stories are what inspire me and give purpose to my 26.2-mile journey, and will carry me every step of the way.
Read more about Bonnie Sawyer here.
Peabody
Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt and Police Chief Thomas Griffin
Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt and Police Chief Thomas Griffin are among those who will be spending the next seven weeks training and preparing to run 26.2 miles for a cause close to their hearts as part of this year's Peabody Police Boston Marathon team.
This year, the team of Griffin, Sergeant James Harkins, Peabody Firefighter Michael Coleman, Retired National Grid Forman Raymond Brady and Bettencourt will run to benefit Cops For Kids With Cancer.
"The opportunity to raise money for families battling pediatric cancer is what drives us to train for this annual event," the team said.
Read more about the Peabody Police team here.
Salem
James Smith
Salem resident James Smith will run 26.2 miles to benefit the YMCA of Greater Boston. Smith is raising money for the YMCA's teen programs — including the Achievers program, Youth and Government and Leaders Club.
"I am running for the YMCA of Greater Boston because I am passionate about the Y's core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility for the local community," Smith said. "As an employee of the YMCA of the North Shore, I believe that through our collective efforts we can build a much stronger and united society by committing ourselves to financially supporting programs that positively impact the youth of our current generation."
Sudbury
Felicia O'Brien
A Sudbury mom will run the 2022 Boston Marathon to support a Boston diabetes research and treatment center — a cause that's close to home. Felicia O'Brien has competed in eight previous Boston Marathons, and this will be her second time running to raise money for the Joslin Diabetes Center. O'Brien's son, Will, 15, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 10.
"Will living a normal life wouldn't be possible without the researchers at Joslin," she said. "They play a big part in how he lives his life."
Read more about Felicia O'Brien here.
Stoughton
Tracy Freeman
After losing her son to a rare genetic disease called Rett Syndrome, Tracy Freeman is running the Boston Marathon in his honor to help raise awareness of the devasting disease.
Aidan Freeman was born in 2013 and was the only boy in Massachusetts to have Rett Syndrome, a neurological disorder that normally affects girls. There is no known cure, and most boys diagnosed with the disease don't survive past the first year of their lives. Aidan was a strong and happy boy child who sadly passed away on March 7, 2021, at the age of 7 after a courageous battle with Rett Syndrome.
"I lost my heart. I simply would have stayed in bed for the past ten months, except for Aidan's two siblings who he adored," Tracy said.
Read more about Tracy Freeman here.
Waltham
Chris Young
Waltham resident and local school administrator will be running the 2022 Boston Marathon in support of the Waltham Boys & Girls Club. Chris Young, the Associate Director of Secondary School Counseling at The Fessenden School and the founder of the charity organization Books & Bread, has run four other Boston Marathons for the Waltham Boys & Girls Club. If Young meets his fundraising goal this year, he will have raised a total of $35,000 for the organization over the span of his running career.
"Every single run I have gone on since April 15, 2013, my mind has wandered back to that day, nine years and thousands of miles, I run to remember that after hate, love and joy can thrive, and I run to remember how blessed I am to be able to go out and tussle with the beast," said Young in a statement.
Read more about Chris Young here.
Julie Mizraji, Sameer Savkur, Rachael Tobio and Rachel Vollemans
Four Waltham residents will be running as members of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team in the 126th Boston Marathon, which will be held on April 18.
Julie Mizraji, Sameer Savkur, Rachael Tobio, and Rachel Vollemans are joining over 500 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge teammates from across the United States and around the world to collectively raise $5.5 million. The team will run in-person this year and will also offer the option of running virtually.
Read more about Julie Mizraji, Sameer Savkur, Rachael Tobio and Rachel Vollemans here.
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