NH Boston Marathon Runners Race To Support Boys & Girls Club Of Dorchester

PORTSMOUTH, NH — Two Planet Fitness employees will run the 127th Boston Marathon supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Portsmouth’s Molly Johnston, an executive assistant with Planet Fitness and Bill Bode, the division president, U.S. franchise for the company, of Hampstead, will be running to support the Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester in Massachusetts.

The company founded The Judgement Free Generation in 2016, its national charitable initiative to help end bullying, build youth self-confidence through fitness, and spread inclusivity and kindness.

“My parents volunteered for our local Boys & Girls Clubs,” Johnston said, “and seeing firsthand how Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester makes such a difference in kids’ lives will be my motivation to cross the finish line.”

In May 2019, Dorchester's Boys and Girls Club opened a new third-floor gym for teen members. The facility includes a brand-new weight room with a bike, treadmills, elliptical machines, and 10 different curling bars and benches.

“Having the opportunity to run the Boston Marathon accomplishes a couple of things for me,” Bode said, “first, completing the Boston Marathon will be a great personal goal, and second, having the opportunity to run it for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester-raising funds to advance their exceptional work.”

The company said the center is described as a “judgment-free environment” to encourage teens to get a healthy workout.

Patricia Lamb, the organization's director of development and communications, said the exercise room was a popular spot for members to work out in.

"Bill and his team were with us every step of the way,” she said, “honoring their commitment to us before, during, and after the pandemic, supporting our efforts to get our kids back to the clubs as soon as it was safe.”

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