Running Store Raising Funds for Boston Marathon Victims

A local shoe and running store is going the extra mile to help those injured in the Boston Marathon bombings. 

On Thursday morning while setting up the store for the day, manager of Fleet Feet Sports Paul Giuliano was wearing a grey T-shirt emblazoned with a big red heart and the words “Runners for Boston.” The T-shirts are part of a fundraising campaign the local shop has joined to help the more than 200 people injured during the blast that rocked the Boston Marathon on April 15. 

“I think there were a lot of people in the community that were there,” said owner of the running apparel store John Fabbro. “Initially, when a tragedy happens, you want to help, just like the people [at the marathon] ... who ran to help. We can’t do that, but this is someway that we can contribute.” 

Fundraising for those injured also comes with a personal note for Fabbro and Giuliano. Many people in the community ran in the marathon this year, including Giuliano. Giuliano said he finished well before the bombs detonated at 4:09:43 near the finish line of the race. 

“Fortunately I didn’t hear it; I didn’t see it,” said Giuliano. “I don’t know what I would have done if I was near there ... but this is one way to giveback for the things I couldn’t do at the time.”  

The running store also held a commemorative run days after the bombings on April 18. About 60 people from the Essex Running Club and community came out for the 3-mile run, and those who ran the Massachusetts marathon this year and in previous years wore their official marathon shirts. 

Fabbro said the Runners for Boston T-shirts came in on Monday, and have been selling steadily since they were put on the shelf. 

“I wish we could do more, honestly,” said Fabbro. “You just know those people are going to be suffering for a long time.”  

The T-shirts sell for $20 and come in a variety of sizes. Fleet Feet, located at 603 Bloomfield Ave., will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the T-shirt sales to The One Fund, an official fundraising campaign set up by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino. To date, the fund has raised more than $27.5 million.