Watertown Police Officer Running 200 Miles to Help Bombing Victim

As he faces yet another hill in his 200 mile race in the mountains of Vermont, Watertown Police Officer Brandon O'Neill said he will have a motivation - he is running the race for Boston Marathon Bombing victim Jane Richard.

The three-year member of the Watertown Police Department will run as many of the 200 miles in the Peak Ultra Marathon in a 72 hour period - raising money to help Richard's recovery with every mile. Richard lost her leg in the Boston Marathon Bombing, and is starting her recovery. Her brother, Martin, was killed in the bombing and her mother was severely injured.

"I hope to inspire her in some way," O'Neill said. "Inspire her to never give up, move forward and to live live to the fullest."

O'Neill ran his first marathon in 2006 when he ran the race in Boston. He ran the race in honor of his daughter, who had been home for a year after being treated at Boston Children's Hospital for a heart problem. O'Neill was home with his daughter - now 8 -when he heard about the bombing.

"I was very shocked," O'Neill said. "If something like this is going to happen it will be at a major event, but not the Boston Marathon. I hope something like this never happens again."

Gradually O'Neill ran longer and longer races and moved up to 100 mile ultra marathons. Beginning May 30, he will take on his first 200 mile race.

The course is no piece of cake. Runners will take on a 10-mile loop on trails through the mountains of Vermont. Each lap has 2,400 of vertical feet change, O'Neill said. 

As the race goes on, O'Neill said he will think of Jane.

"It will help me get through the miles," O'Neill said. "As I struggle through the race, I will think of this little girl's struggles to get through what she is going through."

Originally from New Jersey, O'Neill moved to Massachusetts in 1997. He has been a police officer for eight years, working two years in Chelsea and three in Maynard before coming to Watertown.

Currently, he lives with his family in Newton, but hopes to move to Watertown.

"I love Watertown. I love working here. There is a lot of pride," he said.

O'Neill has asked people to sponsor him 50 cents per mile completed, but said any donation will help.

Checks can be made out to Jane Richard, and sent to the Watertown Police Station, 552 Main St., Watertown, MA 02472, c/o Officer Brandon O'Neill. Donations can also be made online at O'Neill's fund-raising site, http://www.youcaring.com/other/running-for-young-jane-richard/57476