Conor Sayles, shown leading the Hopkinton Fire Department team onto the court during last month’s Battle of the Badges Dodgeball Tournament, is running the Boston Marathon for the Michael Lisnow Respite Center.
By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer
From the start of his career a decade ago, Conor Sayles has had two passions: being a firefighter and giving back to his community through
By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer
Danahy has never been one to seek the spotlight. But the 34-year-old has become more comfortable with moving forward as the leader of the volunteers for the Boston Marathon’s adaptive athlete divisions as 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the wheelchair division.
“I prefer to be the background character,” he said in a recent interview with the Independent. “But it’s also a good thing to get out of a comfort zone.”
22: Panigrahi seeks Six Star medal
23: Stevenson back seeking ‘redemption’
26: After soccer, Wolf turns to running
The Hopkinton Independent is published by Hopkinton Independent, LLC, 32 South St., Westborough, MA 01581. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of the ad that was in error if notified in writing within three business days of the publication date. All material is the property of the Hopkinton Independent. Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material. The Hopkinton Independent is delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to 100 percent of the homes and businesses in Hopkinton, reaching more than 7,700 addresses. It’s also available for free pickup at Muffin House Café and Price Chopper as well as at many other local businesses. Hopkinton Independent, LLC is equally co-owned by Bagdon Advertising, Inc. and Susanne Odell Farber.
STAFF
contact us
Publisher: David Bagdon
Dir. of Business Development: Susanne Odell Farber
Founder: Sarah Lothrop Duckett
Managing Editor: Jerry Spar
Social Media director: David Bagdon
STAFF WRITER: Mary Ellen Gambon
Editorial contributors: Lyn Calkins, Chris Villani, John Cardillo, Jane Bigda, Susan Gonsalves, Courtney Cornelius, Nick Schofield
FOR ADVERTISING: Contact Susanne Odell Farber Cell: 508-954-8148 or Email: Sales@HopkintonIndependent.com
FOR MAILED SUBSCRIPTIONS, Contact the Hopkinton Independent Office: 508 435-5188 or Email: Sales@HopkintonIndependent.com
EDITORIAL COMMENTS AND INQUIRIES, including Letters to the Editor should be emailed to Editor@HopkintonIndependent.com
Letters to the Editor must include the writer’s name, address and contact information for verification. Letters should be no more than 400 words, and the Hopkinton Independent offers no guarantee that all letters will be printed. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event or thanking volunteers and sponsors.
The Hopkinton Marathon Committee’s historic sign welcomes Boston Marathon participants and spectators to the Town Common every year.
ItAll Starts Here! Hopkinton has been hosting the Boston Marathon for the past 101 years, since 1924. We are excited to extend a warm friendly welcome to the 30,000 participants, 950 volunteers, spectators, residents and all those visiting Hopkinton for the start of the 129th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America.
The Hopkinton Marathon Committee (HMC) has worked collaboratively
with the Boston Athletic Association (BAA), town departments, residents and businesses finalizing all the logistics and coordinating all aspects of the Boston Marathon within Hopkinton to ensure a safe and successful start. We encourage residents and visitors to stop by the Town Common on Saturday, April 19, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. to experience the Parks & Recreation Department’s
Marathon Committee | 3
BOSTON MARATHON PRESENTED BY BANK OF AMERICA APRIL 21, 2025
30,000
START TIMES
9:06 a.m. Men’s Wheelchair
9:09 a.m. Women’s Wheelchair
9:30 a.m. Handcycles & Duo Participants
9:37 a.m. Professional Men
9:47 a.m. Professional Women
9:50 a.m. Para Athletics Divisions
10:00 a.m. Wave 1
10:25 a.m. Wave 2
10:50 a.m. Wave 3
11:15 a.m. Wave 4
Entrants will be assigned a bus loading window that corresponds to their seeding and bib number. All bib numbers will be color-coded according to bus loading times, which corresponds to start windows in Hopkinton.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable race experience for all participants, race day road closures will be in effect on Monday, April 21.
Roads within the Town of Hopkinton will close at 7:00 a.m.
No on-street parking will be allowed in Hopkinton. Roads will re-open at 1:30 p.m.
official B.A.A. buses, official vehicles, and public safety vehicles will be permitted on roads in Hopkinton during that time.
Very limited parking is available for participants at the 52 & 80 South Street lots in Hopkinton. Participant shuttle buses will run throughout race morning. Please visit www.baa.org for a list of prohibited items that are not allowed near the start or on Hopkinton shuttle buses.
Several viewing areas in Hopkinton will have heightened security rules. Spectators entering these areas will be required to pass through security checkpoints and all items being carried will be subject to screening; backpacks, or any similar items carried over-the-shoulder, including handbags, are not permitted. For more information on spectator policies, please visit www.baa.org. Spectator parking and a shuttle on race morning will be located at Hopkinton State Park.
festive celebration that will include music, games, crafts, food trucks and merchandise vendors. Take time to view the Winged Foot Exhibition sponsored by Hopkinton Center for the Arts and the 26.2 Foundation. Come cheer on the kids running in the second annual 100-yard dash, which starts at 2 p.m.
On Patriots’ Day weekend, Massachusetts will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution (April 19, 1775). In recognition of this historic milestone, local students were selected by the HMC to take part in the special patriotic programing at the start honoring the professional athletes. The students will line up along Marathon Way as the pro and para division athletes proceed to the start line.
It’s been 50 years since the debut of Bob Hall, who at age 24 was the first athlete to officially finish the Boston Marathon in a wheelchair. He was a pioneer who through sheer determination and courageous spirit led the way for others to excel in the sport of wheelchair racing. He raced in a standard hospital chair and then started designing chairs that were specifically made for racing. He often visited the first and second grade classes at Center School during marathon week.
“In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the wheelchair division, the strongest field in history will feature champions, course record holders and reigning paralympic medalists,” per the BAA.
Four-time Boston Marathon champion Bill Rodgers celebrates 50 years since his first win, when he set an American record in 1975. He went on to win in 1978, 1979 and 1980.
U.S. Navy veteran Bill Hamilton Jr. and U.S. Army veteran Dick Simpson will be recognized and honored on the starter’s platform.
Race starters include Larry Murphy (Wave 2), who has served on the Boston Marathon Organizing Committee for six decades, coordinating the transportation program, and two longtime Hopkinton residents and town employees: Jean Cann (Wave 3), Hopkinton High School’s legendary girls track and cross country coach, and Pat O’Brien (Wave 4), a retired Hopkinton police officer working his 43rd marathon.
We appreciate and are grateful for the support of the many residents as well as businesses, departments and organizations that donate valuable resources, facilities and equipment that are vital to the success of the marathon. We thank the Select Board, Town Manager’s Office, Hopkinton Fire, Hopkinton Police, Hopkinton Police Communications, DPW/Highway Department, Parks & Recreation, Board of Health, Hopkinton Public Schools/Facilities Department, Big Brother Big Sister, CVS, Dell, Hopkinton Post Office, Hopkinton State Park and the Korean Church of Greater Boston.
Special thanks to the Hopkinton Marathon Committee members and the entire BAA Start Team who masterfully organized this prestigious world-class athletic event.
We hope everyone visiting Hopkinton enjoys the beauty and hospitality that our community extends to you!
Good luck!
Dorothy Ferriter-Wallace Chair, Hopkinton
Marathon Committee
BAA Liaison and Organizing Committee Member
The Hopkinton Select Board extends a warm welcome to runners and spectators from around the world for the 129th Boston Marathon. The town anticipates the excitement and global attention that is focused on the race, which will be held on Monday, April 21.
This year’s marathon celebrates several significant milestones: the 129th Boston Marathon, the 101st start from Hopkinton, the 250th Patriots’ Day and the 50th anniversary of Bob Hall’s wheelchair pioneering effort. Numerous events are planned, including Stories and Songs on April 4, the stART Line Experience from April 13-27, the Winged Foot Exhibition on the Town Common from April 5-27 and a 100-yard dash for young runners on April 19.
The success of the marathon festivities rely heavily on the dedication of volunteers from the Boston Athletic Association, Hopkinton Marathon Committee and the 26.2 Foundation, as well as professional staff, vendors and others. Their efforts in planning, organizing and executing the event are deeply appreciated.
The marathon serves as both a personal fitness challenge and an opportunity for many runners to raise much-needed funds for charities. All runners, from the elite athletes to the charity participants, are celebrated for their dedication and contributions.
The Select Board invites everyone to join in the celebrations leading up to Monday, April 21, and to encourage and cheer on the athletes at the start line at the Town Common.
Brian J. Herr Chair Select Board Town of Hopkinton
your Edward Jones Financial Advisor
Mark Freeman, CEPA Financial Advisor 508-293-4017 Mark.Freeman@edwardjones.com
We’re in this together.
long haul. We’ll be with you every step of the way as you celebrate life’s biggest milestones. Let us help you work toward them.
Let’s start building the future today.
Mark Freeman Financial Advisor 77 W Main St Suite 206 Hopkinton,
Spanning 2+ acres of land in one of Hopkinton’s most prestigious neighborhoods, this property encompasses three versatile buildings: a carriage house, a heated pool house, and the main house. The carriage house, which could be seamlessly connected to the main home if desired, is ideal for a home business, a workshop, multi-generational living in the accessory apartment and the climatecontrolled garage bays can accommodate up to 14 vehicles. View more photos at 10QUEENANNEROAD.COM
volunteer service. As a Hopkinton Fire Department firefighter and paramedic, he has combined these elements by volunteering for the Michael Lisnow Respite Center and running on its behalf in the Boston Marathon.
“I started to get to know the individuals at the Respite Center when they would come to visit the Hopkinton Fire Department,” Sayles said. “Then I started volunteering there in October and became really inspired. I try to volunteer there one or two days a week.”
The Michael Lisnow Respite Center has provided physical and emotional support for children and adults with disabilities and their families for 26 years, according to its website. The nonprofit serves hundreds of families with the help of private donations.
Sayles has a personal understanding of the challenges people with disabilities face through his experiences with family
members. His grandmother died from Alzheimer’s disease, while his nephew in Virginia, named Balian, is on the autism spectrum.
“When I am out training, I say to myself, ‘Do it for Balian. Do it for Nana,’ ” he said. “I get really emotional thinking about all the reasons I do it.”
The three-year HFD firefighter explained that the friendships he has developed at the Respite Center have enriched his life. When he was asked by a worker to run on the nonprofit’s behalf, Sayles couldn’t refuse, and he set an ambitious goal of $15,000 (givengain. com/project/conor-raising-funds-formichael-lisnow-respite-center-88439).
“It’s been truly life-changing getting to know the clients and the people who work there,” he said. “It’s really an amazing place, so anything I can do to help out, I’m all in.”
That includes running, a sport Sayles admittedly detests.
“I hate running with a passion,” he
said. “That would be an understatement. I’ve always been an athlete, but running for a long period of time wasn’t fun for me.”
His experience at the Respite Center changed his perspective.
“I have the opportunity to run for them,” Sayles said. “Sometimes we take the ability to run and to use our legs for granted. So I think I can suck it up running in the marathon.
“My mantra has become ‘Do it for those who can’t,’ ” he stressed. “The joy I have seen in Balian is the same joy I experience at the Michael Lisnow Respite Center.”
Sayles explained that the friendships he has developed at the Respite Center have enriched his life. Proceeds from his marathon run will sponsor tuition for its clients.
“The whole journey and the whole process have been such a blessing,” he shared. “I’m not only improving my cardiovascular health, but also just the
connections I’ve made and the people I’ve met have touched my heart.”
A Hopedale native, Sayles knew from an early age that he wanted to become a firefighter. He grew up watching the hit television show “Rescue Me,” where Denis Leary played a troubled firefighter. Later, Sayles combined firefighting and public service as a volunteer firefighter for his hometown.
Said Sayles: “I’ve always looked up to firefighters, ever since I was a little kid.”
“After volunteering with the Hopedale Fire Department, I knew I wanted to do this full-time,” he continued. “I came to Hopkinton because I wanted to grow more and go to a busier department. Hopedale is a wonderful place, but I guess in my youth I wanted more call volume.”
Leary inspired Sayles not only through his portrayal of firefighters but also because of his efforts to support them.
“[Leary’s] childhood friend and his cousin were part of the Worcester Six,” said Sayles, referring to the six firefighters who perished while battling a blaze in a Worcester warehouse in 1999.
Sayles recently organized the Battle of the Badges Dodgeball Tournament in Hopkinton on March 22, a friendly competition between the town’s police and fire departments. Twenty-two teams competed, with all of the proceeds going to the Respite Center.
“This is the first one, so I’m looking to make this a big thing,” he said. “I just brainstormed with the Respite Center about a charity event we could do together.”
His mother, Ruth Pointer, sang the national anthem at the tournament. She is the last surviving member of the Pointer Sisters, and iconic pop and soul music group popular in the 1980s.
The Respite Center also has given back to Sayles, providing him with a marathon trainer for 16 weeks. Sayles has run consistently at least three times a week, increasing the distance each week.
Sayles said he finds the pace of running relaxing, in contrast to firefighting, which he described as “controlled chaos.”
“I always say that I have the best job in the world,” he said. “For me personally, I love helping people. The calls fluctuate from big to small. But my mindset is that any call we get, that could be the worst day of someone’s life.”
Sayles said he is “overwhelmed” by the support he has received from the community and his colleagues in HFD and HPD. He is especially grateful for the encouragement of the clients and staff at the Respite Center.
“I get so moved when the clients come up to me to thank me for running for them,” he said. “My response is always, ‘No. Thank you!’ ” Sayles hopes to continue volunteering and making a difference in Hopkinton.
“If my story can inspire at least one person, then I’m OK with that,” he said, beaming. “I can go to bed with a smile on my face.”
He added: “If I could send a message out to everyone, it would be: Try to make the world a better place, just do it for those who can’t, and really appreciate what you have in life.”
By Jerry Spar Managing Editor
You might not know Pat O’Brien, but chances are you’ve seen the retired police officer around town.
Whether working a police detail or organizing and supervising community events for the Friends of Hopkinton, O’Brien usually can be found somewhere in town helping to make it a better place in which to live.
O’Brien is one of three individuals chosen by the Hopkinton Marathon Committee to serve as honorary starters at this month’s Boston Marathon.
“When I was asked to be a starter for the 2025 Boston Marathon, I was surprised, honored and humbled,” O’Brien shared. “This will be the 43rd Boston Marathon that I have been involved with since I started working for the Hopkinton Police. I have seen dignitaries, celebrities and veterans stand high above the starting line and fire the gun to start the athletes on their way. I would never have expected that I would be asked to start a wave of marathoners on their journey into Boston.”
Asked for his favorite marathon memory, O’Brien indicated it’s the sense of accomplishment he shares with other volunteers every year.
“When all the marathoners have passed through Hopkinton,” he shared, “we gather at the common and look at all the barricades, platforms, trash bags, tents and volunteers, and we can say
‘Another successful marathon.’ ”
A Milford native, O’Brien joined the Hopkinton Police Department in 1983, two years before he married (Donna) and started a family (three sons).
“When I moved to Hopkinton, it reminded me of Mayberry,” he noted, referring to the fictional country town from “The Andy Griffith Show.” “Population was 7,500, there was one full traffic light and everyone knew each other. It was close to my hometown of Milford, so it was an easy transition and my second hometown.”
In addition to coaching his sons in sports during their youth, O’Brien also coached high school basketball for
Pat O’Brien, shown working at last year’s Boston Marathon, will start Wave 4 of this year’s race.
grandfather fire the starting pistol for Wave 4 at this year’s race.
“What I am looking forward to as a starter is seeing my grandchildren’s eyes when they are on the common and thousands of athletes pass their location on their way to Boston,” O’Brien stated. “I am also looking forward to being that person who starts the athletes’ journey on Monday, April 21st.”
Resident Jean Cann, a member of the Brandeis University Hall of Fame for her track exploits (when she was Jean Olds), now is better known as the accomplished coach of the girls cross country and track programs at Hopkinton High School for the past eight years.
eight years and refereed as well. He has served various groups and committees in town and now focuses on the Friends of Hopkinton.
“The Friends of Hopkinton is a group of Hopkinton townies who are trying to maintain the old-time feel of an ever-growing town,” he explained. “We sponsor two events each year. The first is Family Fling which is in the springtime, usually on the Town Common. The second one is Family Day, which is in the fall.”
O’Brien also makes sure to spend time with his sons — all of whom remained local — and his four grandchildren, who will watch their
Cann served on the Hopkinton Marathon Committee for more than a decade and has contributed to the race in other areas as well.
“I have been involved with many aspects of the Boston Marathon, but starting a wave will be something new,” she joked.
“I have had many great memories at the Boston Marathon,” she added. “I was a USA Track & Field official in one of the corrals for the 100th Boston in 1996, and the energy and excitement that day was unmatched. That was before I moved to Hopkinton. When I was in college, one of my coaches ran and placed in the top 10, so it was really fun to go out and
cheer her on. We could only make it to two spots because she was so fast! As a volunteer at the information booth on the common, I always enjoy meeting people from around the world and hearing their stories.”
With her husband, Brian (a former runner at Harvard University), Cann has three children. Their oldest, Ian, ran cross country and track at Stonehill College before graduating last year.
A former freelance writer for the Hopkinton Independent as well as New England Runner magazine and other running-related publications, Cann also has worked for the Sports Museum of New England and Red Auerbach Youth Foundation. She began her coaching career as an assistant at Brandeis and started a summer track and field program for Hopkinton’s Parks & Recreation Department, running it as a volunteer for 10 years. She also has coached for the Boston Athletic Association.
While she never ran Boston herself — injuries derailed her plans many years ago — Cann looks forward to seeing runners she has coached head out from Hopkinton when she starts Wave 3.
Murphy celebrates 60 years
Larry Murphy started contributing to the Boston Marathon in 1964. Six decades later, he’s still at it, focusing on transportation at the start.
“When I went to Hopkinton, I first started on Main Street at Grove Street unloading the buses coming in
from South Street with runners and spectators getting to the [athletes] village and start line,” he recalled. “The buses were running from South Street to the State Park, where vehicles were parking as well, and then going back through town and back out to South Street.
“The buses were not able to keep up with the flow, so we broke them into two routes — one from the State Park to A Street and dropping the passengers, then going back to the State Park. The other route would run from South
Street to Main Street and Mayhew Street and then turn around and back to South Street. That shuttle still runs today.
“Tab Kadlik is a great man, he keeps full control of all the lots on South Street and he has a good team from DMSE [Dave McGillivray Sports Enterprises] working with him. With the heavy flow of buses coming into the village, I moved over there and assisted Joe Robinson with all the buses.”
Murphy credited the State Police and Hopkinton Police with working well together to ensure the buses get in and out and staffing the access roads, allowing the runners and spectators to enjoy their experience.
“My favorite Boston Marathon memory was the 100th,” he shared. “We went from 9,000 runners in 1995 to 38,000-plus in 1996. It took over two years of planning it all out. And during the pandemic, we helped figure out the timing of the buses for our rolling start in Hopkinton, delivering the buses to Hopkinton on a very tight and critical timeline.”
A Somerville native who still lives there, Murphy noted that 20 members of his family also have volunteered for marathon duty.
His hopes for this year are the same
as any other, as he prepares to serve as the starter for Wave 2.
“What I am most looking forward to about being a starter is that the day is beautiful and everything will go as planned,” he stated.
The Hopkinton Marathon Committee will continue its tradition of honoring local veterans at this year’s race. The two individuals to be recognized are Bill Hamilton and Dick Simpson.
Hamilton, a lifelong resident, grew up on Ash Street, just steps from the marathon start line. A 1959 graduate of Hopkinton High School, he was in the Navy from 1959-62, serving as a quartermaster third class on the U.S.S. Barry.
He went on to be a firefighter and emergency medical technician for 30 years, also working as a carpenter and sign painter. Now retired, he is known for his popular Tales from a Townie stories in the Independent where he recounts his childhood in town.
Simpson, a 1967 HHS grad, represented the Army in Vietnam as a Specialist 5. He was honorably discharged in 1971 and was the recipient of the Army Commendation Medal. Simpson worked at the Dennison Manufacturing Company in Framingham and spent 35 years as a letter carrier in Ashland. He now enjoys bocce, horseshoes and an occasional game of billiards.
The Hopkinton Marathon Committee will host its second annual 100-Yard Dash on Saturday, April 19. Held at the start line for the Boston Marathon, the event is an opportunity for children to participate in the buildup to the marathon.
“It brings everybody together and the kids have an opportunity to run over that start line before everyone else,” explained Dorothy Ferriter-Wallace, chair of the Marathon Committee.
The race was conceived last year as a way to celebrate the 100th start of the Boston Marathon in Hopkinton. It was intended as a one-time event, but FerriterWallace said the response was so positive that her committee decided to make it an annual tradition.
“Last year we put it together pretty quickly and we were worried if we would get the kids,” she said, noting that over 150 children wound up participating.
“The kids loved it, and we loved it,” she added. “We got a lot of good comments from the parents.”
The race coincides with the Parks & Recreation Department’s Celebrate at the Start Line event on April 19. Families will have a chance before and after the race to check out vendors, music and kid-friendly programming.
Children ages 5-12 who signed up before registration closed April 12 will receive a T-shirt, a race bib and a finisher’s medal after completing the dash.
Ferriter-Wallace emphasized that the dash is a “great opportunity to run across the start line before everyone else.”
Added Ferriter-Wallace: “It’s something positive for the kids in town, and doesn’t take parents away for the whole day.”
Roads leading to the start line in Hopkinton are slated to close at 6:30 a.m. on race day, and no on-street parking is allowed in the vicinity.
Limited parking is available at Hopkinton State Park, and shuttle buses will transport individuals to the starting area throughout race morning. A small bag containing personal items is allowed on the bus.
Everyone boarding a shuttle bus as well as those entering the start line area are subject to security screening. Spectators are encouraged to use a clear plastic bag to expedite the screening process.
The first start is the military march at 6 a.m. The men’s wheelchair division goes off at 9:06 a.m., followed by the women’s wheelchairs at 9:09 and the handcycles/ duos at 9:30.
The professional men’s start is 9:37, with the professional women taking off 10 minutes later. The para athletics division has a 9:50 start.
Following that are the four wave starts. Wave 1 starts at 10 a.m. and is for numbers 201-8,499. Wave 2 starts at 10:25 a.m. and is for numbers 8,500-16,999. Wave 3 starts at 10:50 a.m. and is for numbers 17,00025,499. Wave 4 starts at 11:15 a.m. and is for numbers 25,500-33,999.
The Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce is offering a unique way to commemorate the Boston Marathon this year.
For the first time, the chamber is making its pole banner design available as a commemorative poster for members of the general public to purchase. The
poster comes in two sizes and is available on the Chamber of Commerce website (hopchamber.com)
“Whether you’re a marathon enthusiast, a supporter of the wheelchair division, or simply a fan of Hopkinton’s deep
connection to the race, this is your chance to bring home a piece of the tradition,” a press release from the chamber states. This year’s design honors the 50th anniversary of the wheelchair division. The Boston Marathon became the first
major marathon to include a wheelchair division after Bob Hall completed the race in 1975, according to the Boston Athletic Association.
Chamber of Commerce president Brooks Farrar commented in the press release that the goal of releasing the design as a poster was to allow the Hopkinton community at large to participate in the pole banner tradition.
“Hopkinton is where it all starts, and we’re excited to offer a keepsake that allows everyone to celebrate the town’s role in marathon history,” Farrar stated.
The grand marshals for this year’s Boston Marathon are race legends Bob Hall and Bill Rodgers, both of whom made history 50 years ago.
Hall was the first officially recognized
By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer
The 26.2 Foundation and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts are joining forces again this year to provide unique cultural and artistic experiences for the Boston Marathon season.
Called “The Start of Something Extraordinary,” the collaboration brings together multiple events “designed to connect the community with the historic Boston Marathon, specifically its iconic starting point in Hopkinton,” according to 26.2’s website. The events kick off in April and take place before and after the marathon.
Kim Chisholm, the executive director of the 26.2 Foundation, describes the partnership for this initiative as the “intersection of art and sport.”
This is the third year the two organizations have collaborated on their shared initiatives. Last year’s activities centered around celebrating the 100th start of the Boston Marathon in Hopkinton.
“We knew that we wanted to do something together in order to celebrate these kinds of momentous earmarks,” said Kelly Grill, executive director of the HCA. “The idea was to have a focal point … for anybody in the region to celebrate the 100th start.”
That focus on celebrating a historic moment has since shifted, said Chisholm, noting the collaboration has “turned into this larger initiative we’re calling ‘The Start of Something Extraordinary.’ ”
This year’s “extraordinary” focus brings together beloved events from
previous years, along with new features and expanded offerings.
On April 4, the HCA and 26.2 kicked off their 2025 celebrations with Stories and Songs, an event that blended stories and live music into a reflection on the power of the Boston Marathon and what it means to those involved.
Five marathoners took the stage at the HCA to tell their marathon stories. After they spoke, Steve Spector and his band, Hot Acoustics, performed a song chosen by the performer that reflected their marathon journey.
“It’s like a mini TED Talk,” Chisholm explained. “It’s a platform for us to begin to share all of the incredible, inspirational stories around the marathon.”
Added Chisholm: “It will now become our signature event we do every year.”
Last year’s events featured the first Winged Foot Exhibition — an initiative that brought a wide variety of artists together to create art using cutouts of the winged foot design. The exhibition is back again this year and has expanded its call to 40 artists.
One of the artists slated to contribute to the exhibit this year is former marathoner Bobbi Gibb. She was the first woman to run the entire Boston Marathon in 1966 and is recognized as a three-time winner of the Pioneer Women’s Division.
“We’re very excited to have Bobbi Gibb painting [for us],” said Grill.
The winged feet will be on display on the Town Common starting April 7. The HCA and 26.2 will be auctioning off the pieces as well, with proceeds benefiting both organizations. The auction went live on April 5, and an artists reception was planned for April 12.
Grill said the exhibition had “sort of been in the back of our minds for a number of years” and was inspired by a similar display of public art installations in Chatham. She also described how both the auction and call for artists have drawn attention from people all over the country.
‘Something Extraordinary’ | 9
‘Something Extraordinary’ | from page 8
Grand marshals | from page 7 ‘Something Extraordinary’ to celebrate marathon wheelchair athlete in the race when he entered in 1975, finishing in just under three hours. He won again in 1977 and finished third in three other Bostons (1978, ’80 and ’81).
Chisholm said the effectiveness of the winged foot displays lies in the ability to draw people in and offer connection.
“We found last year people were coming to visit the winged feet, stopping to read the artists’ statements, and then they were sharing their own stories with us,” said Chisholm. “The connection that it offered was really special.”
The stART Line Experience, which provides visitors a guided tour of art and sculptures in Hopkinton that pay homage to Boston Marathon legends, also is returning this year. The first marathon collaboration between HCA and 26.2, it provides an interactive experience around Hopkinton.
“People have a chance to really explore the town,” Chisholm said.
The experience is free to the public, and begins at the HCA with a short video about the history of the start of the Boston Marathon. Guests then receive a map of each of the sculptures around town, and QR codes they scan provide more information on each marathon legend.
It also includes a ticket package for a discount on lunch at Start Line Brewing. Additionally, activities for children have been added at each stop.
“If [kids] do all those different activities and they send in their map … a winner gets pulled for a prize,” said Grill.
The HCA and 26.2 have installed a mural at the Hopkinton Public Library that is designed to “celebrate the themes of perseverance, community and inspiration.” The mural is on display until April 27.
The mural provides an opportunity for visitors to capture a unique memory of their visit to the start of the Boston Marathon.
“A lot of people take pictures of the start line, but this was another way to have a photo opportunity,” said Grill.
Faith Sycaoyao, a college student from Texas, designed this year’s mural. She also designed last year’s mural, which Grill said came from a winged foot sculpture that was too difficult to get shipped to Hopkinton.
“She’s a young woman who’s super talented but also very interested in supporting nonprofits and using her artwork for good,” Grill said of Sycaoyao.
“At such a young age, she’s really accomplished,” Grill added.
The HCA and 26.2 continue to work on expanding their offerings and providing worthwhile experiences that draw people to Hopkinton.
“The goal is to bring more people to the start line to celebrate what makes Hopkinton special,” said Grill. “We want to keep creating ideas and reasons to come visit.”
Both Chisholm and Grill credit the hard work of artists, volunteers, and sponsors such as Dell Technologies who make their collaboration possible.
“It’s a whole community that makes this happen,” said Chisholm.
Hall also was named as the recipient of the Rick and Dick Hoyt Award, which the Boston Athletic Association presents to a person or organization who exhibits the Team Hoyt’s spirit through advocacy and inclusion.
Rodgers won the 1975 race, his first of four titles. In the process, he set an American record with a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 55 seconds. “Boston Billy” went on to win three straight Bostons from 1978-80. He also won the New York City Marathon four consecutive years (1976-79) and was recognized as the top marathoner in the world in the late 1970s.
Hall and Rodgers will make an appearance at the start line and then ride in the lead car to let spectators know runners are approaching. The two men also will be recognized at the finish line.
Hopkinton’s Start Line Brewing debuted its annual Marathon IPA — brewed each marathon season — last month. This year’s can pays tribute to race volunteers. Previous iterations have honored Hopkinton marathoner Wayde Marshall, the planned International Marathon Center, women’s marathon pioneer Bobbi Gibb, 26.2 Foundation Executive Director Tim Kilduff, Team Hoyt and the statue of race starter George Brown. Start Line Brewing will host its annual Marathon Spectacular on Marathon Monday, April 21, from 2-7 p.m., featuring music from the Speakeasies. Proceeds from tickets for the event will benefit the 26.2 Foundation.
He casually mentioned that he was featured on WCVB-TV in February because of his team leadership at this internationally renowned race.
Danahy was born with spina bifida, a condition that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly. He explained he has scoliosis and kyphosis, which curved his spine into an S shape.
For most of his life, Danahy has used a wheelchair. He has lived close to the marathon’s starting line his entire life, watching it either from home or as a volunteer. His mother, Dale, ran it four times on behalf of the Michael Lisnow Respite Center, a local nonprofit for people with disabilities.
His hometown knowledge and prior race experience gave Danahy a unique perspective on the needs of adaptive athletes, making him an ideal team captain for the volunteers who oversee their needs.
In his youth, Danahy competed in 5K races using a handcycle that was made by and given to him by Bob Hall. In 1975, Hall was the first officially recognized participant to compete in a major marathon in a wheelchair, finishing the Boston Marathon in a time of 2 hours, 58 minutes.
Danahy painted the wheelchair black and blue, dubbing it “The Bruise.”
Explained Danahy: “I called it ‘The Bruise’ because, as reckless as I was as a preteen, I knew that I was going to do something stupid with it. I wish I had that to this day.”
After the television interview, Hall tracked down Danahy to let him know he would be at the race this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his trailblazing marathon finish.
“I hadn’t seen him since I was 17, so I thought it was really cool that he reached out to me,” said Danahy.
Danahy confessed that this was when he started volunteering at the Boston Marathon, even though the official age for volunteers is 18.
“I started back when there was literally strictly the wheelchair division,” he explained. “I remember back when racing using a wheelchair was contentious. When I started, there were only 20-
25 wheelchairs in the division. The Hoyts were the only duo team.”
Rick and Dick Hoyt, like Hall, are Boston Marathon icons. The duo completed 32 Boston Marathons together, with Dick pushing his son, who had cerebral palsy. They inspired runners and athletes with disabilities with their tenacity. There is a statue of the duo in front of Center School.
This year, Danahy said there are at least 53 participants who use wheelchairs. There are also participants with physical, visual and intellectual disabilities.
After Danahy graduated from Hopkinton High School, he became the team captain for the adaptive athlete division.
“I was in panic mode,” he explained. “I needed to get the volunteers and do it all.”
“After all these years of doing this, I am finally settling into this as my show to run,” said Danahy, a 2013 Curry College graduate — he earned a communications degree with a concentration in sports broadcasting.
Said Danahy: “My biggest struggle and yet prideful moment is finding those
volunteers that are good matches.”
Over the course of his leadership, he has amassed a loyal crew of volunteers. He assigns them to assist the various divisions of adaptive athletes. Danahy also oversees volunteer trainees. On Marathon Monday, he directs the para athletes to their tents and refreshments, making sure they stay warm and hydrated.
“I finally started taking a little bit of stress off myself and started empowering others,” he said, “letting other people lead the groups at the different locations.”
A self-described “control freak,” Danahy said his experience has led him to delegate some tasks.
He added: “It’s kind of contradicting, to a point. I think I finally found my balance.”
One task Danahy personally oversees during the weekend before the race is to sit in the middle of each tent to make sure the floor is level for the para athletes.
“One year we were chasing chairs out of the tent,” he explained. “I had to have a volunteer stationed to catch them. They didn’t think of that. I said, ‘That’s why I’m here. Gravity works differently when you’re standing compared to wheeling.’ “
“The BAA [Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the race] has been very good about things like that,” added Danahy. “They know how to treat disabled people like athletes, and equal human beings at that.”
As adaptive athlete participation grows, Danahy hopes more space is allocated for the athletes, their chairs and their assistants. He also would like to see more duos and handcyclists compete.
In 2018, Danahy began volunteering with the Spina Bifida Association of Greater New England (SPAGNE), mentoring teens He was approached for this role by SPAGNE’s executive director, Jean Driscoll, an eight-time Boston Marathon wheelchair division champion who has spina bifida.
Said Danahy: “I quite literally laughed in her face and said, ‘I’m the last person you want mentoring impressionable kids.’ ”
Now he is a SPAGNE board member and secretary. Three of his volunteers are SPAGNE members. The nonprofit received a marathon bib for the second consecutive year.
“Some of us are capable, but we’re also limited,” Danahy said. “ I have to make sure that the people around me don’t overexert themselves.”
After having worked at the Michael Lisnow Respite Center, Danahy understands the usefulness of support and camaraderie in a way he didn’t grasp as a youth.
“As a kid, I was never comfortable in my own skin,” he explained. “If you put me in a group of other people with disabilities, I’d be even more uncomfortable. Now I feel I can finally be comfortable enough in myself to be able to give back to the disabled community.”
Danahy also serves as the vice chair of Hopkinton’s Commission on Disability. His mother was involved in the previous iteration of this group, which disbanded several years ago. He has been advocating for accessibility, particularly at town buildings.
“What we hear the most in the disabled community is excuses. We don’t hear reasons nearly as much,” he stressed. “It bothers the hell out of me. People don’t understand that it’s the little things. But there’s so many little things that they add up.”
Added Danahy: “The world is slowly catching up, but I still think it has a long way to go.”
Megan Callinan, a resident since 2016, will attempt her first marathon as part of a fundraiser for Hopkinton Youth Football.
“Ever since I was a child, I have loved Marathon Monday!!” she wrote on her fundraising page (app.teamlinkt. com/fundraisers/ support/boston2025 megancallinan). “For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a spectator of this amazing event cheering on the runners. The energy of that day is like no other, and I can’t wait to become a runner in this iconic event.”
Callinan’s second grader, Nolan, played youth football last fall, while her husband served as an assistant coach.
Megan Callinan, shown with son Nolan, will will run her first Boston as a fundraiser for Hopkinton Youth Football.
“For those unfamiliar with Hopkinton’s Youth Football program, it was essentially defunct five years ago,” she wrote. “Under new organization leadership, It has grown tremendously since culminating with three Super Bowl champions this past season! The future is very bright for our Hillers!”
Callinan noted that “fundraising has played a pivotal role in getting the program where it is today and will be essential in getting us where we envision it will be. As the organization grows, the need for new equipment with the highest safety standards also grows. Please consider donating and supporting this wonderful cause!”
Jack Donleavy set a goal of raising $7,000 for Hopkinton’s Tax Relief Fund, which provides direct financial assistance to disabled and senior residents.
“If you’ve ever experienced the excitement of running the Boston Marathon, you’ve felt the energy of Hopkinton, Massachusetts — the starting point of one of the world’s most iconic races,” Donleavy wrote on his fundraising page (jackrunsamarathon. com). “For those unfamiliar, Hopkinton isn’t just the place where 36,000 runners begin their journey. It’s a tight-knit community that embodies the spirit of unity, resilience and celebration. Each year, the town, volunteers and families gather to cheer on runners and send them off on their 26.2-mile journey, creating an atmosphere unlike any other.”
Added the Boston resident: “This year, I’m asking for your help in giving back to this community that has given so much to so many. Hopkinton is facing significant challenges. To support its growing needs — including infrastructure, education and the everyday costs of running a municipality — taxes will rise by at least 25% in the coming year[s]. This increase
poses a serious financial burden for low-income seniors and people with disabilities living on fixed incomes, jeopardizing their ability to stay in their homes and remain a part of this vibrant community.”
Keegan O’Shaughnessy began running marathons after graduating from Fairfield University in 2023. He’ll run Boston as a fundraiser for the Hopkinton Lions Club.
“My Mom is a two-time Boston Marathoner who also fundraised on behalf of numerous charities,” the lifelong Bostonian explained as part of his fundraising appeal (givengain.com/ project/keegan-raising-funds-for-thehopkinton-lions-club-93437). “I have taken after her and found a passion for marathoning in tandem with fundraising for causes that I hold close to my heart. This will be my second Boston Marathon and third world major, and I plan to run my first sub-three-hour marathon.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to fundraise on behalf of the Hopkinton Lions and cannot wait to race in Boston representing them!”
Meghan King is running with the Angel Fund Marathon Team, designated as the Sharon Timlin Memorial Event charity runner. The Timlin Event is a road race and family fun day held in Hopkinton every June as a fundraiser for ALS research.
King, who is running her 23rd consecutive Boston, notes on her fundraising page (secure.frontstream. com/theangelfundbostonmarathon2025/ participant/MEGHANKING) that she has raised about $100,000 for the Angel Fund through her past runs.
The money has provided “essential funding for research which directly assists world renowned ALS research Dr. Robert H. Brown Jr. and his research Local runners roundup | 12
MaxMara
Adrienne Vittadini Mens
Marc Jacobs
Cosmopolitan
Steven Perryman, O.D.
Tom Ford
Vera Wang
Coach
Kate Spade Sun
Lilly Pulitzer Sun
Ray Ban
8am - 4pm MON through FRI
just beyond the creek.
Enveloped in the woodlands of Upton, the new 55+ detached condominiums at Cobblers Creek preserve the privacy and comfort of a singlefamily home with the benefit of a carefree lifestyle.
Designed for active adults with both single-level and townhome styles featuring first-floor primary suites, two-car garages, and outdoor space.
Local runners roundup | from page 11 team at UMass Medical School in bringing critical research to clinical trial,” she wrote.
Visit the New Model Open Friday - Sunday 11:00 - 4:00 and by Appointment
CobblersCreek.com 888-471-7074
Onsite amenities including walking trails and a Clubhouse complement this idyllic location just 10 minutes to Hopkinton and Westborough.
Now Selling from the high $700,000’s
Added King: “As many of you may know, a close friend of mine, Rich Kennedy, was diagnosed with ALS. Rich is the President of the Angel Fund and has lost both his father and two brothers to this devastating disease. Now more than ever, we need to support Dr. Brown and his incredible research team in finding a cure for ALS.”
After previously running the New York City Marathon on behalf of the Hopkinton-based charity Live4Evan, Soroosh Sabouni (pictured above) will take on Boston this year for the same organization (donate.hakuapp.com/ donations/new?fundraiser=6c79d58af 4f40e573fc3).
Live4Evan, founded after the passing of Hopkinton college student Evan Giardi in 2010, provides housing support for families of children being treated for congenital heart defects — the same abnormality that plagued Evan.
“I’m so excited to be running the Boston Marathon and yet another Live4Evan race!” Sabouni shared. “I am running the Boston Marathon for L4E because I know what it’s like to need a life-saving surgery and need a place to stay for my family when they were in town for my surgery. While I didn’t need heart surgery, I empathize with the cause, and if it weren’t for other organizations like L4E, I may not be here today. I believe all of our heart warriors should be able to not have to worry about having their support system with them during these times.”
Ryan Katz, a former Massachusetts resident who now teaches on New York’s Long Island, is the marathon charity runner for the Hopkinton Garden Club.
Katz focuses on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and helped with an annual project dedicated to environmental awareness — including building a pollinator garden on campus.
As he explained on his fundraising page (gofundme.com/f/running-bostonsupporting-education-and-communitygardens), he also teaches life science units focused on the role of plants in improving ecosystems through biodiversity and spends time gardening with his family, making him a good fit for the HGC.
“I consider myself a lifelong learner of the natural world and want to be the best role model possible for my students,” he stated.
By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer
Until Harlenne Burg moved to Hopkinton, she didn’t realize how infectious running could be.
“They say when you live in Hopkinton, you catch the running bug,” said Burg, “but I never believed them.”
Burg has come down with that bug, and as a result, the Boston Marathon will be the first of what might be many more marathons to come.
“I like challenges,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a one-and-done for me.”
Burg and her family have lived in Hopkinton for the past 13 years. While she said she always has been inspired by the town and all the marathon runners, it was a former client of hers that nudged her into becoming a runner.
A licensed aesthetician, Burg opened Harlenne SkinCare & Studio on Church Street two years ago. Before that, she worked in Ashland, where she met a woman named Nicole Ferrari.
Ferrari lived with the neurodegenerative disease ALS, which impacts nerve cells in the spinal cord as well as the brain. As the disease progresses, ALS results in greater loss of muscle control over time. According to Burg, complications from the disease resulted in Ferrari’s death in 2021.
“I saw the whole process of her declining,” said Burg, who would make house calls to provide beauty care for Ferrari.
As the two got to know each other, Ferrari began to encourage Burg to take more chances in both her personal and professional lives.
“She said, ‘Harlenne, you can do whatever you want as long as you get your mind into it,’ ” Burg recalled. After more encouragement, Burg finally agreed she would run the next Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K — a Hopkinton race that raises money for ALS research — on behalf of her client.
Three months after that conversation, Ferrari passed away, and Burg signed up for the 5K.
That first race has snowballed into so much more. Despite a heel fracture putting her on bed rest for five months, Burg has run a handful of 5Ks, half marathons and the Falmouth Road Race.
The success of completing those races convinced Burg it was time to do something bigger: the Boston Marathon.
“I said it’s now or never, and I wanted to try the marathon,” she explained. However, she clarified that the memory of her friend and client is driving her toward this goal more than anything else.
“The only reason I’m doing this is because I was inspired by Nicole,” she said.
Training ‘horrible,’ but mentors help
The mental and physical aspects of training for a marathon are tough challenges Burg has had to face.
“Getting up at 6 a.m. and going out there in 10 degree weather, it’s brutal,” Burg said of her training through the winter. “I give people a lot of credit.”
“It’s horrible,” she joked.
Burg is happy for the challenge, noting that she has faced bigger obstacles. For the entrepreneur and mother of two who came to the United States from Brazil in 1999 not knowing English and with little money to her name, a marathon seems easy in comparison.
Having support along the way has
made the challenge of training for the Boston Marathon easier for Burg. In recent weeks, she has begun running with a group of veteran women marathon runners from the Hopkinton Running Club and says the experience has been transformative.
“This group of women has changed my life,” Burg said. “I feel very fortunate.”
Burg described some of the wisdom the women have passed on to her, which includes stretching and doing her best to remain injury-free. She’s also learned what to focus on when it comes to running the race.
“They run marathons left and right, and it’s not about time [for them], it’s about finishing and not getting hurt,” said Burg.
Burg will be running the Boston Marathon this year to raise funds for the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation.
It’s a cause she is enthusiastic about supporting.
“The library is everything,” said Burg. “They do so much for the community. … I’m very happy that the library chose me.”
The HPLF (hplfinc.org) helps support the public library by raising funds for renovations, expansions, programs and other critical library projects. Through its marathon fundraising alone, the HPLF has raised over $120,000 over the years to support the library.
By late March, Burg already had blown past her $6,000 fundraising goal. She is still taking donations on her fundraising page (hplfinc.org/ harlenneburgbostonmarathon2025) and is over $7,500 — a feat she said is the result of the town’s generosity.
“That’s what I love about a small community,” Burg said. “People just come together and help.”
Added Burg: “This is a great helping community; I always have support.”
By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer
Although Eric Benson jokes about how hard training for a marathon is, it’s a privilege he takes seriously — especially because he wasn’t sure he’d get to this point.
“It’s a big deal for me,” said Benson.
The 50-year-old father of three is set to run his first marathon this year to benefit Hopkinton Little League. His run this year represents a prolonged effort to overcome physical health challenges that have affected him for years.
“I had written off this goal decades ago,” he said. “I decided this wasn’t going to happen.”
Benson’s journey to the marathon started in his youth, growing up in Milford. He started playing hockey from an early age. From there, he progressed into other sports, eventually falling into cross country and track.
“Hockey is what I was into, but we didn’t have a hockey team at the high school,” Benson explained. “I happened upon [cross country and track], and I got really into it,” he added, noting that the camaraderie of the team was a big draw.
After graduating from Milford High School in 1993, Benson took a break from running to focus on academics. He received a master’s in intensive special needs education from Simmons College and began teaching at Hopkinton High School in 2000. It was there he connected with legendary Hopkinton track coach and teacher Mike Scanlon.
Benson coached alongside Scanlon in 2002 — Benson’s last year of teaching
at HHS — and picked up running once again. He began making plans to run the Boston Marathon when a knee injury sidelined him.
With his goal delayed, Benson shifted gears. He went back to school and earned a Ph.D. in clinical child psychology. He and his wife welcomed their first daughter, Elise, in 2009 and their second, Audrey, in 2012. The family moved to Hopkinton in 2013 and eventually had a third daughter, Camille.
His physical health issues remained, however. His knee problems, along with
a recurring back injury that flared up in 2023, made movement difficult.
“Things had gotten to a point where I was hobbling around,” said Benson, calling the issue a “wake-up call.”
He found treatment through Platinum Physical Therapy in Hopkinton and began putting in the work to improve his condition.
“It wasn’t easy,” Benson said. “I took it real seriously.”
He began treatment in April 2024, and within a few months he saw improvement. He reported being able to walk and move around better. Eventually, walking became running, and Benson decided it was “time to make good” on the marathon plans he made decades before.
Benson has spent his mornings since that decision training for the big race ahead. Juggling work and family has been a balance — one that his
wife, Anne Beauchamp, has helped him maintain.
“There’s no way I could have done this without her,” said Benson, calling her his number one supporter.
Benson works his training around his job as a clinical psychologist for Boston Child Study Center. The job — which was inspired in part by his former teaching job in Hopkinton — has a lot of school hours, leaving his mornings free.
Weekends are saved for his long runs, accompanied by ice baths to help him recover. Throughout the process, Benson has had to learn where his limits are. He recounted a story of a planned 15-mile run that ended after 11 miles. After rethinking his training and upgrading his shoes, he has been able to maintain longer runs.
“I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve relearned in training for the marathon is you’re going to have days you don’t meet your goals,” Benson said, but “failure’s not an endpoint — failure’s a recalibration.”
Benson will be running his first Boston Marathon to raise funds for Hopkinton Little League, an organization his family has been involved in for years.
“It’s a great organization,” Benson said. “I’m happy to do whatever I can to support [it].”
Benson’s daughter Audrey has been involved with HLL’s softball programs since she was in preschool. His youngest
By Jerry Spar Managing Editor
As the mother of a tweenager, Kaitlyn Mullen knows how difficult it can be for a parent to impress their child. Running the Boston Marathon is one of those rare opportunities.
“I don’t do much that impresses her, but this impressed her,” Mullen said with a laugh. “I’m always trying to inspire and be a positive role model, and she’s excited about this.”
A Hopkinton resident since 2016, Mullen is running on behalf of the Hopkinton Education Foundation, which supports schools in town. The organization notes that it has provided $1.3 million to fund hundreds of grants over the past 26 years.
“The HEF has such critical programs they offer for our educators and students,” Mullen said. “I wanted to support an organization that means a lot to me and the town.”
This will be Mullen’s second marathon. She started running in 2016 when she signed up for the Hopkinton Running Club’s Couch to 5K program and ran the Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K in town.
In 2023, when she was working for Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, she and five other friends — all working moms — decided to run Boston together as a fundraiser for Beth Israel Leahy Health.
“I absolutely loved the hard work, grit and accomplished feeling that came with running the marathon,” Mullen recalled in a blurb on her fundraising page (gofund.me/27c7bca4). “It was truly one of the best days of my life! I loved being able to raise money for a meaningful cause and tackle something I once would have thought was impossible. I loved setting an example for my daughter and showing her that 45 years old was not too old to run your first marathon!”
Although Mullen did not run the marathon last year, she continued to race, completing the Boston Athletic Association Distance Medley — completing the BAA 5K, 10K and half marathon over a span of eight months.
Another reason she skipped the marathon last year was that in addition to the training, the fundraising takes up a lot of time and energy. She returns this year, boosted by fundraisers held in conjunction with local businesses Swoon and Blue Square Pizza.
On race day, she’ll receive special support from her husband and sixth grader.
“My daughter is a good cheerleader,” Mullen said. “She and my husband will see me off and then they’re going to travel to couple of different locations to cheer me on.”
She also takes inspiration from the way the town supports the race.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the marathon fever living in Hopkinton,” she said, noting that her home is close to the marathon start line. “We’re surrounded by it. That inspired me to take on the challenge again.”
Benson | from page 14
daughter, Camille, also plays softball. He says the program has been “very good” to both of them.
He also has gotten involved in the organization, stepping in as an assistant coach for Audrey’s team over the last several years. This season, he plans on coaching Camille’s team.
In late March, Benson was close to reaching his $6,000 fundraising goal (paypal.com/donate?campaign_ id=RFBWN4PBZ5G8W). Beauchamp has helped him raise funds by organizing and running a silent auction that included fitness packages, swim lessons and even a lunch with Rep. James Arena-DeRosa. Not concerned with a finishing time,
Hopkinton State
Benson is committed to make it to the end of the course. “Run, jog, walk or crawl, I’m getting across that finish line,” he said.
Benson hopes his commitment to running the marathon is a lesson he can pass on to his daughters. He is dedicating his run to them as well as his father, who imparted the same lessons of hard work and perseverance.
“My father used to always say, ‘If any other person can do it, then you can do it. You just have to be willing to put in the work,’ ” he said.
Benson hopes to show his girls that it’s never too late to achieve your goals.
“If you’ve got goals to set for yourself, the best time to start is today,” he said.
By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer
Hopkinton native Aamir Benincaso
is running for the Michael Lisnow Respite Center for the second time, after completing last year’s race. He hopes that his participation will help make strides toward greater acceptance of people with disabilities in town, pointing to the Respite Center and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts as leading the way in providing inclusive activities.
The Michael Lisnow Respite Center has provided emotional and physical support for individuals with disabilities and their families for the past 26 years.
“It’s an honor to run for this charity that means so much to me and my family,” said Benincaso. “It means so much to me representing the town of Hopkinton and all those with disabilities, physical or intellectual.”
He called representing the nonprofit, the town and all people with disabilities “the triple effect.”
“Growing up with a brother with special needs, I met so many families who had the same challenges,” he said. “The Michael Lisnow Respite Center helps people combat this endless marathon that I saw firsthand at a young age.”
Benincaso explained that his family was fortunate that both of his parents were in healthcare.
“Luckily, we had my grandparents and an uncle to help when they could,” he said. “But unfortunately, there are those who don’t have that, and that’s where the Michael Lisnow Respite Center kicks in.”
He added that the Respite Center’s nonprofit status was another factor in his decision to support it (givengain.com/ project/aamir-francis-raising-funds-formichael-lisnow-respite-center-85823).
“When I was looking for a charity to run for, I wanted to have a heart-to-heart connection with it,” said Benincaso. “At the Respite Center, they have a lot of heart there. And I found a charity that gives me a lot of pride because of what
they do.”
He was first introduced to the Respite Center when he was a student at Elmwood Elementary School many years ago.
Said Benincaso: “I have such respect for all of our teachers in Hopkinton who taught us to be empathetic and kind and gave us an opportunity to visit the Respite Center during the Elmwood School years.”
Benincaso was a member of the varsity tennis team in high school, which sparked his interest in athletics.
Benincaso first began walking for the Jimmy Fund Walk in 2022 to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He did this to honor his grandfather, who died during the pandemic from lung cancer.
“During the pandemic, I started slowly and gradually building up my endurance and my miles,” he said. “Six became 13, and then 13 became 21 until
I got to 26.2 miles.”
Benincaso spent a lot of time training at Hopkinton State Park because of the hills.
Said Benincaso: “I call one incline there Mini Heartbreak Hill.”
He was able to connect with other town runners there, talking with them about why they run and the causes they support. He called this “the home team” because they all represent the town in a competition that draws runners from around the world.
Added Benincaso: “Learning about all the other stories about why people are running is remarkable.”
Many of his neighbors enjoy running, so he was able to get pointers from them.
Although he is looking forward to this year’s race, Benincaso is hopeful that the day won’t be as brutal for runners as the last Marathon Monday.
“It’s good to test your body,” Benincaso said with a laugh. “It was so hot last year that it was challenging. During training, I think the coldest
temperature I ran in was 28 degrees. You really have to push yourself to get across the finish line.”
He was happy to finish the race with a teammate. But once it was over, the exhaustion overwhelmed him.
This year, Benincaso is well prepared and enthusiastic about his run.
“I have so much energy from the pride that I feel that I think I will finish the marathon, no problemo,” he said. “I will keep powering through to the finish line.”
Benincaso said his “personal mission is to promote disability awareness and acceptance.”
“There are some places around the world that don’t take care of people who are disabled,” Benincaso lamented. “It’s a blessing to live in such a welcoming town.”
He observed that Hopkinton is becoming more inclusive by having a Commission on Disability that understands the spectrum of challenges people face. Benincaso also praised the Hopkinton Center for the Arts and its executive director, Kelly Grill, for embracing the disability community. He enjoys attending the Friday Night Sing-Alongs for adults with disabilities.
“It’s always interesting to see what songs people pick,” he said. “Last time, my brother sang ‘Footloose’ by Kenny Loggins. It’s a form of expression in the town, and it’s nice to have that. And you get to have a little small talk there when we’re enjoying the performances.”
Benincaso expressed thanks to Grill and all of the staff members of the Michael Lisnow Respite Center, including founders Sharon Lisnow and Mary McQueeney.
“I plan on running for many years, and am so grateful for the support from family, friends and our Hopkinton community,” he added. “When it’s time, I will encourage the next generation to be on the home team.”
By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer
There are two things
Hopkinton native Thomas Guerra says are most challenging about training for the Boston Marathon: balance and wind.
“The timing of the marathon has been the hardest thing,” Guerra said. Between school, work and training, he’s had to strike a delicate balance.
The wind and cold also are a pain to deal with.
“I think that’s been the hardest aspect, physically,” Guerra said, emphasizing the difficulty of training in Boston in the winter.
The Hopkinton High School graduate is a senior at Northeastern University. In between finishing his bachelor’s degree in international business and a minor in Spanish while he trains, he also has to keep his eye on his next steps after college.
“I think I want to end up somewhere in the consulting world,” Guerra said when asked about his career options.
“It’s a competitive market right now,” he added.
Boston will be Guerra’s first marathon, but he is up for the challenge. He started running in middle school, though he says it was “nothing serious.” When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, his interest in running picked back up.
“I needed something to do, so I thought: let’s pick up running,” Guerra said.
Since then, he has dabbled in more competitive running events. While he has yet to run a full 26.2 miles, he’s participated in a number of 5K races around Hopkinton as well as a half marathon on Cape Cod.
As the running bug continued to bite, he decided it was time to give the Boston Marathon a try.
“I have absolutely grown to love [running] and thought I was ready for the challenge of Boston,” Guerra explained.
Guerra is running this year’s Boston Marathon for a cause that he knows well: Boston-based nonprofit Tenacity.
“It’s a great organization that I’m really proud to be running for,” said Guerra.
Guerra explained that the charity works with at-risk youth and supports them with education and athletics. The program integrates athletics — particularly tennis — with literacy, tutoring and mentoring programs to “help build academic motivation and achievement,” according to the Tenacity website (tenacity.org).
Guerra’s first exposure to Tenacity was through the Westboro Tennis and Swim Club. His father now sits on the organization’s board of directors.
“I think it’s an organization that aligns very closely with my interests,” Guerra said.
He described how the process of getting the nod to fundraise for Tenacity was competitive, and expressed his gratitude for the chance to run for a cause he believes in.
Noted Guerra: “Not everybody gets [this opportunity].”
Guerra’s fundraising goal for Tenacity is ambitious. Through late March, he had raised just under 90% of his $10,000 goal. He notes on his fundraising page (givengain.com/ project/thomas-raising-funds-fortenacity-inc-91662) that the funds will “help shape the next generation of leaders and changemakers.”
Despite how close he was to achieving his fundraising goal, Guerra said he was worried about asking his community for support.
“Fundraising is not something I’ve ever had to do before,” said Guerra. “Asking friends and family to help me raise $10,000 is definitely a big ask.”
As much as Guerra would love to have a consistent mile time of 7 minutes and 30 seconds, completing the Boston Marathon is the primary goal.
“Just being able to cross that finish line is an accomplishment in and of itself,” he said.
He expressed excitement over Boston being his first marathon. The fact that the race starts in his hometown and ends where he currently lives is not lost on him, either.
Guerra expects his family, friends and roommates will be cheering him on at the finish line. Among them will be his dad, who himself has run the Boston Marathon several times.
Part of Guerra’s inspiration for running the marathon is the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013 and how the city recovered from the tragedy. His father ran that year and had finished 15 minutes before the bombs went off at the finish line.
“Just seeing how the city recovered from that and how resilient people were kind of inspired me to do this race even more,” said Guerra.
However the marathon plays out, Guerra is ready for the challenge.
“[It] should be an interesting one, but I’m very excited,” he said.
By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer
Hopkinton native Samantha Purpura
lives about a five-minute walk from the Boston Marathon start line. Growing up, she fantasized about running in it, first inspired by her aunt’s participation for several years.
Now she will realize her dream, fueled by friendship and a desire to help those who live beyond the finish line. She is raising money for the South Boston Neighborhood House, a settlement house serving the needs of all ages.
In a recent interview with the Independent, she glowed with enthusiasm as she spoke about her love for both communities and how she became connected with fellow runners training in Boston.
“I just can’t believe it,” said Purpura. “Sometimes it just feels so surreal that I am running in the Boston Marathon. The marathon has always been a staple in our community. Growing up, I saw all of the crowds of people come here to run this iconic race, and now I am with them.”
The 23-year-old first became interested in running after watching her aunt run the marathon several times. She calls her “one of my biggest role models.” Purpura ran for Hopkinton High School’s cross country team during her senior year, “and I have been running ever since.”
While attending Providence College, she met her best friend, Grace Vaughan. Their mutual interest in running led to an encounter that changed the course of their relationship.
“We’ve done two or three half marathons prior together,” she said. “We’ve been running together for over a year now. We wanted to take the next step, so we’ve been training together for the marathon.”
Purpura and Vaughan are running in support of the South Boston Neighborhood House (givengain. com/project/samantha-raising-fundsfor-south-boston-neighborhoodhouse-86454.). Affectionately known
as “the Ollie” after Olivia James, who founded it in 1901, it is the oldest continuously operated, communitybased nonprofit in South Boston. They are part of Team Ollie.
“Grace’s family is from South Boston,” she explained, “so she has always been very familiar with the organization. My boyfriend lives right down the street from the South Boston Neighborhood House, so that was how I was introduced to them.”
South Boston Neighborhood House runs a preschool and hosts after-school activities for older children. For teens, it has career development and college prep “Get Ready with Me” workshops.
“They are just the most amazing
organization,” Purpura said. “They really just care for every single person in the South Boston community in need of help.”
While the organization focuses on youth and providing necessities for mothers in need, Purpura said she is most impressed with its outreach to and inclusion of South Boston’s older residents.
“I feel like the elderly can be so easily forgotten sometimes,” she explained. “It’s so beautiful that they have senior citizen activities that really focus on anti-isolation. They really try to have as many events as possible for them. It’s such a beautiful organization to be introduced to.”
Added Purpura: “It’s just so neat that they really care about every stage of life. To me, that’s so unique.”
Because of her involvement in South Boston, Purpura said she has met and trained with runners for other Boston charities.
“Every Saturday, we’ll start at the Lululemon on Newbury Street,” she said. “ It’s been so nice to meet other people. It’s just been the best experience. [On a recent] Saturday, Grace and I ran 20 miles together with them.”
Purpura is grateful for the opportunity to run, as Achilles tendinitis in December and early January sidelined her from training. She credits acupuncture with her ability to rebound quickly.
“In the beginning of training, it was so aggravating,” she said. “Obviously, I’ve run half marathons, but it’s so different when you’re doing double that. I was being dramatic and wondering if I was going to be able to run the marathon. But of course I saw the right people. Acupuncture changed by life, and I’d really recommend it to anyone.”
She quickly got back on track, running three times a week, even during the most frigid weather.
“I feel like part of the training in the cold probably should have been more aggravating than it was to me,” she said with a laugh. “But I kept smiling because I was so happy to be able to do it.”
The emotional impact of training for this prestigious race has affected Purpura most deeply.
“You get so excited that if you kind of face a setback, I think it can hit you a little harder, just because this race is so emotional for so many people,” she explained. “And when you want it so badly and something doesn’t go your way, I think it’s a little easier to overthink it. If I didn’t have my best friend beside me, I think my motivation would be a little lower.”
Training along the marathon route was equally impactful for Purpura.
“It’s always been amazing, but I really didn’t understand the significance of it until I was really a part of it,” she shared. “Just the little things, like the Johnny Kelley statue we run past [in Newton]. I didn’t know the story behind that legendary runner until this year. Finding little treasures like that during the training has been so inspiring.”
Now that she has been interacting and training with fellow runners, Purpura said she is deeply moved by what motivates each one.
“Everyone running the marathon has their story about their reasons for running it,” she stressed. “And they’re all so different and so personal. It’s such an amazing group of people who are so committed to it.”
She added that she hopes to be an example of both Hopkinton and Boston pride on the big day.
“The South Boston Neighborhood House had so many applications for runners,” said Purpura. “I’m really lucky to be introduced to their community and be running for them. I just feel so blessed that my body is able to do this and that I have this opportunity to be part of such a historic marathon for Hopkinton but also for an amazing organization.”
By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer
Until last year, longtime resident
Nancy Burdick had never run a marathon, nor even thought about it as a long-term goal.
“It was not something that was on my radar,” Burdick said, adding that it was “not something that I’ve been incrementally working toward.”
Despite that, Burdick set a goal of running last year and made it across the finish line. This year, she’s decided to go after it again.
“Last year I survived and completed it. This time, I’d like to do it faster,” she said.
Burdick is hoping to use much of the knowledge she’s gained in the past year not only to finish the race, but also to complete it in 5 hours and 30 minutes, if possible. She says training this year has been easier and that she’s found advice through other runners and local running clubs.
She also mentioned a goal of exceeding her fundraising for the Hopkinton Emergency Fund, which awarded her its charity bib.
“I promised to exceed whatever they needed as their baseline entry and give it my best,” Burdick said.
The HEF is a nonprofit that seeks to “provide temporary emergency financial assistance to residents of Hopkinton through collaboration with existing local human services organizations,” according to its website. The organization partners with groups like Hopkinton Youth & Family Services, Project Just Because, the Hopkinton Senior Center and the St. Vincent de Paul Society to help individuals and families pay for critical needs.
Burdick noted that some of these town organizations sometimes do not have the means to provide direct assistance to a person or family because their emergency is a financial issue. The HEF acts as a “safety net” between these organizations, she explained.
The mission of HEF aligns with
Nancy Burdick will run her second consecutive Boston Marathon this year, looking to improve on last year’s time.
Burdick’s own values of philanthropy and community support. She compared it with her experience with the Letters Foundation — a charity established by Warren Buffett and his sister, Doris.
The charity replied to letters from people within the United States and offered one-time grants for hardship requests. Although it shut down in 2020, it awarded more than $10 million in grants during its operating years.
Burdick said that the HEF reminded her of the work she did at the Letters Foundation, and that the nonprofit was “helping provide what the other agencies in town can’t provide.”
She also noted that the charity connected with a number of other organizations she is involved with, making it a “perfect fund to support.”
Burdick’s fundraising goal for the HEF was set at $7,500. As of April 10, she had far exceeded that goal, reaching $11,723, according to her fundraising site (givengain.com/project/ nancy-raising-funds-for-hopkintonemergency-fund-94587). She credits her philanthropic community for getting her way past her goal — particularly her friends from the Letters Foundation.
“That kind of support is so heartwarming,” she said.
Community support and involvement is nothing new for Burdick. Her resume includes time with the Hopkinton School Committee and the Hopkinton Parent Teacher Organization, membership in the Marathon Quilters Guild, leadership roles with Hopkinton Scout troops, volunteering at St. John the Evangelist Parish and the St. Vincent de Paul Society, coaching multiple sports in town and more.
While she has stepped back some of her involvement in recent years, running the Boston Marathon is a way for Burdick to continue giving back.
“There are so many [charities] that are deserving of support in whatever way you can provide it,” said Burdick. “The marathon is a great opportunity for them to raise a significant amount of money.”
By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer
Autumn Tumbleton is prepared to follow in the footsteps of her parents, Keiron and Maureen, as a runner in the Boston Marathon. The 19-year-old Hopkinton native is racing home after completing a semester in Barcelona as a University of Massachusetts Amherst sophomore, arriving about a week before the big competition.
“This whole process has been a little bit out of the ordinary,” explained Tumbleton in a recent Zoom interview from Spain. “This is not how most people train.”
Running literally flows through the Tumbleton family’s blood. Her dad, a native of Dublin, Ireland, was scouted there by colleges and accepted an offer from Providence College, leading him to America.
“My mom and he met through work, and she got into running then,” said Tumbleton. “They both just had such a strong influence with me and my sister growing up with running. That’s always been our main sport, and we’ve just continued with it through our whole lives.”
Having two marathon runners to seek advice from has been an advantage, she added.
Tumbleton lived steps from the starting line as a child. She recalled walking to the athlete’s village the week before the race and the palpable excitement in town. Her parents often hosted runners, at times also running in the big race.
“Growing up, we always hosted runners for the marathon,” she explained. “I have really strong, warm memories of going downstairs the morning of the marathons. Me and my sister would see all these runners in the house getting ready. There would be so much good energy in the house.
“There’s just that excitement in town, that sense of pride,” added Tumbleton. “It’s really cool seeing people from all around the world come and support people running it for their organizations. It’s definitely surreal.”
Tumbleton beginning running “at a pretty young age,” she said. After participating in kids races, she joined a running club in middle school. She
competed as a member of Hopkinton Middle School’s track and field team beginning in seventh grade and kept running throughout her entire high school career.
One of Tumbleton’s biggest joys was when her sister, Chloe, who is three years younger, ran with her on the track and field team. Tumbleton described Chloe as her “best running buddy.”
“Whether it’s for fun or with a team, I’ve always loved it,” she said of the sport. “Once I got to college, I chose not to run through the school. But sometimes I go to the UMass Running Club. I find it manageable to incorporate running into my life.”
Since January, Tumbleton, who is majoring in finance, has been studying in Barcelona. This has given her the ability to train in the scenic Spanish countryside and experience the country and continent.
“I’ve been able to travel throughout Europe,” she said. “Even recently, I went to Morocco with some of my friends. It’s nice that I’ve been able to run in these amazing places.
“Running has really helped me soak up the places I’m visiting,” she continued. “And the weather is beautiful, usually sunny in the 50s and 60s with not much humidity.”
Joked Tumbleton: “So I’m not sad that I was able to dodge training during a New England winter.”
While loving the urban atmosphere of Barcelona, Tumbleton often enjoys running in the mountains and near the ocean.
She added: “You just get a lot of different areas to work with, and it’s really cool.”
Tumbleton is not running the Boston Marathon on behalf of a charity. She earned a place because of her participation in the White Mountains Marathon in North Conway, New Hampshire, last May.
“I didn’t have to qualify or run for an organization or anything,” she explained. “But I would love the opportunity to run for an organization in the future.”
Studying abroad has made it more difficult to develop a training routine, Tumbleton noted. But she has managed to keep pace with her coursework, running, traveling and social activities.
“Before, I was used to a coach telling me what to do, like train for a 5K,” she said. “Now I like to experiment with Tumbleton | 21
By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer
Kayla McCann has evolved into a paragon of endurance and athletic prowess over the past several years. The Hopkinton resident will be running in the Boston Marathon, only about four months after competing in the Ironman World Championship in New Zealand.
McCann’s athletic journey began as a young girl who was encouraged to take swimming lessons by her mother. She later joined a running program in sixth grade called Girls on the Run through the Parks & Recreation Department. This program further instilled in her an interest in competitive sports while building her confidence and leadership skills.
She competed in her first triathlon in eighth grade: a sprint triathlon in Ashland.
“I’ve been competing ever since,” shared McCann, a 2020 graduate of Hopkinton High School.
While at HHS, she was on the varsity cross country and track teams. She also was a member of the swimming team.
“Then I was like, why not biking?” she added. “My goal was always to compete in the Ironman Triathlon.”
Tumbleton | from page 20
different distances. I like to incorporate cross training, speed work and a lot of different elements in my routine. The biggest thing is getting the mileage in.”
Getting enough sleep and recovery time also is important, Tumbleton stressed.
Working out has benefited Tumbleton in other areas of her life. It has helped her by alleviating stress and forming new friendships.
While balancing training with her academic and social activities has been tough, Tumbleton said she relishes challenges.
Said Tumbleton: “Knowing that I have the privilege to do this all makes it really worth it in the end.”
“It’s such a cool sport in the sense that everyone’s trying to support each other and there’s so much energy there,” Tumbleton added. “You don’t see that in some other sports necessarily.”
She noted that while running is obviously physically challenging, there is a mental component to succeeding in the sport.
“My biggest piece of advice is just to not get in your head too much about what you can or can’t do,” she advised. “I just think you have to have that positive mindset that you can do these hard things and find balance.
“I think everyone should give running a try,” Tumbleton emphasized. “I feel like a lot of people really end up enjoying it.”
Tumbleton said she is unsure about her life’s future direction. But running always will be a key part of it.
“I’m so grateful to be able to finally run in [the Boston Marathon] after watching it my whole life,” she said. “I’m definitely open to so many possibilities down the road.”
The Ironman Triathlon is considered one of the most grueling one-day sporting events because of its length and the variety of athletic skills needed to complete it. A triathlon is a multisport race that involves swimming, biking and running across long distances. It is the ultimate test of endurance, as it is one continuous event with only short breaks in between sports as competitors prepare for the next leg of competition.
Athletes begin with an 2.4-mile open-water or pool swim. They transition to a bike race on a cycling route spanning 112 miles, either on an off-road course or on city streets. The final phase consists of running a marathonlength route of 26.2 miles.
“My first Ironman was Lake Placid, where I qualified for the world championships in Hawaii in 2023,” McCann explained, noting she finished in third place for her age group. “When that dream came true, it made me feel the most alive.”
This was an important achievement, as McCann’s ultimate goal was to compete in the contest in Hawaii, where the Ironman World Championship originated in 1978.
“It was a really gorgeous course, but it was really tough with the winds,” she said. “I love racing in warmer climates. I also ran the Iron Man in Puerto Rico, so I don’t mind the heat and humidity.”
On Dec. 14, 2024, McCann competed in New Zealand in the second longest-running Ironman World Championship. She described the experience as “incredible, just unreal.”
“Luckily I had my mom and my sister traveling around with me,” she said. “The race was obviously on one day. We also got to travel to a national park, go to mud baths and take a sunset cruise, which was really cool.”
Transitioning to training for the Boston Marathon was definitely “a change of pace,” according to McCann. She simultaneously began her last semester at Northeastern University while balancing a Herculean exercise schedule.
“Definitely my coach is focusing more on the running aspect,” she explained. “I would consider myself a stronger swimmer, so we’ve kind of stopped swimming and done more focusing on the running and the biking.”
She typically runs four to five times a week, with a longer run on the weekends.
“I also do a couple of speed workouts, and then I just throw in some biking, just to get off my feet a little bit,” she added. “And then just some strength training and physical therapy exercises.”
McCann said that this is less intense than “full Iron Man training,” which takes “a lot more time.”
“I’m just constantly going from
one thing to another,” she shared. “But honestly, my attention span is perfect for that, so I’m just flying from one thing to the next.”
McCann described herself as “a person who gives 100% to what I’m doing, whether it’s showing up to a race or training. I go in knowing that I prepped all I could for whatever I am going into.”
She offered the following advice to anyone considering a marathon run or other athletic competition.
“I’d say, if you’re looking for a goal, just sign up and start working hard toward it,” she said. “Just go in with everything you’ve got and see what comes out of it.”
McCann is running Boston in support of the Brad Canty Underdog Scholarship Fund (gofund.me/ eb212cf9). This is her third marathon on behalf of this cause. This scholarship provides assistance for deserving, unrecognized HHS graduates.
This fund was created in honor of Brad Canty, who was one of McCann’s HHS swimming teammates. He died at age 17 after suffering from gastrointestinal disorders.
McCann will be graduating from college this spring with a nursing degree and a minor in Spanish. The Army ROTC member will be commissioned as a second lieutenant Army officer, another example of her seemingly boundless stamina. After taking her nursing boards, she will begin her service as an Army nurse in the fall. She will not learn where she will be stationed until this summer.
“I became interested in joining the Army when I was a junior in high school,” she explained. “I actually talked to the recruiter from Northeastern at school. I really liked the opportunities the Army had to offer, whether it be traveling or the mental and physical challenges.”
Added McCann: “I just feel like I’m helping the greatest amount of people by being a nurse for the soldiers who are serving the country and their families.”
By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer
Rajesh Panigrahi had never seen a marathon before he and his family moved to Hopkinton’s Legacy Farms neighborhood. He also never thought he’d be able to run one, either.
But now, with a couple of half marathons and the Baystate Marathon under his belt, Panigrahi is gearing up for Boston. He’s also in a time crunch as he ramps up his marathoning career.
The 45-year-old has an ambitious goal: to complete the six major world marathons before he turns 50.
“I have five years to do that,” said Panigrahi. “I’m running Boston, and then next year, I’ll be applying to others.”
“I might get on the Chicago [Marathon] this year, too,” he added.
Boston will be Panigrahi’s first step on his way to earning the Six Star medal from the Abbott World Marathon Majors. The majors awards its medal to runners who complete the six major world marathons: New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin and Tokyo.
To prepare for the Boston Marathon, Panigrahi has been working with a strength coach, along with a running coach from Arizona. He also has been running sections of the marathon route, including a March run to Heartbreak Hill in Newton.
“Training is brutal,” Panigrahi admitted.
If things go well on race day, Panigrahi hopes to complete the marathon in four hours. He finished the Baystate Marathon at around 4 1/2 hours, and he completed a half marathon in just under two. He noted that half marathon time was a “bucket list item” for him.
For Panigrahi, who immigrated to the United States in 2010, running a marathon was not a foregone conclusion. He trained for years as a martial artist and reached the rank of brown belt. Running was an important part of his martial arts practice.
“I ran 5-10 [kilometers] every week as part of my training,” Panigrahi said.
That training was disrupted several years ago after a trip back home to India. During that trip, Panigrahi sustained a knee injury that would plague him for years.
“My father took me to the fairground,” Panigrahi recalled of that trip. “I started running to test myself and got my knee injury.”
The injury persisted as Panigrahi and his family moved to Hopkinton in 2020. Eventually, he experienced his first marathon and decided it was a feat he wanted to undertake.
“I was so inspired by the people running,” he said. “Seeing runners of all background and abilities pushing their limits motivated me to get off the couch and hit the track.”
After an eight-year long recovery period from his knee issues, Panigrahi tried his hand at running again and made plans to run the Boston Marathon. That training has occurred over the last few years, and now he is ramping up his efforts as the big day approaches.
As he trains, Panigrahi finds motivation along his routes. He talked about how, when doing his training runs between Hopkinton and Newton, he’ll pass other runners who cheer him along the way.
“It keeps on motivating [me] and says I’m doing something, which is helping a lot,” he said.
Panigrahi also has found inspiration and motivation from his neighbors.
“I was also inspired by Legacy Farms runners Shankar Datta and Sudhakar Bellidiga,” Panigrahi
said. The two are seasoned marathon runners “whose dedication and passion for the sport encouraged me to start my own running journey,” he said.
Panigrahi will be running for the Hopkinton Center for the Arts this year, an opportunity he says is “super excited” for.
On his fundraising page (givengain.com/project/ rajesh-raising-funds-for-hopkinton-center-for-thearts-85132), Panigrahi says the cause is near to his heart. “As someone who values the arts’ role in transcending borders and opening minds, I’m excited to support HCA,” he wrote.
The money he raises will help the HCA fund various arts programs and scholarships.
Getting a bib from the HCA was equal parts luck and knowing the right people, according to Panigrahi. One of his friends in the Legacy Farms neighborhood previously had run the Boston Marathon to raise funds for the nonprofit. Through that friend, Panigrahi connected with Joy Donohue, who has run for the HCA six times, and submitted an application.
Panigrahi said when he received the news that he had been selected as one of 10 participants to run for the HCA, he was “jumping off the couch” with excitement. He gave particular thanks to Donohue for helping him make the fundraising team.
His fundraising goal, set at $8,500, is ambitious, but he recently surpassed that total. He credits his community for pitching in for his cause.
“I’m thankful to all the local donors, all my friends and family,” Panigrahi said. “Everybody pitched in.”
He also thanks his employer, Becton Dickinson, for support in reaching his fundraising goal. The multinational medical technology and life sciences company offers a gift matching program to its employees for charitable donations.
Panigrahi is thankful for the opportunity to run for the HCA this year. He is excited to have his wife, daughter and best friend from Legacy Farms South cheering him on at the start line, as well as other friends rooting for him in Ashland and Newton.
Most of all, Panigrahi credits his family and his coaches who have given him the encouragement and time to work toward this goal.
“It’s a cumulative effort to make my dreams come true,” he said.
By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer
For Hopkinton resident Chris Stevenson, the Boston Marathon is like a puzzle he keeps trying to solve.
“For some reason, I just can’t figure out this race,” Stevenson said. “Every year, I come back trying to look for redemption.”
With any luck, 2025 will be that redemption year. This will be Stevenson’s fifth time running the Boston Marathon, and his 11th marathon overall. Other races he’s participated in include marathons in Chicago, Providence and New York along with the Hampton Beach Half Marathon and the Ironman Lake Placid Triathlon.
Stevenson’s athletic streak began after he left college. “Right out of college, I started doing triathlons,” he explained.
“I’ve always just been down … for anything adventurous,” he added.
It was through the Boston Marathon that Stevenson met his wife, Kaila. Both ran the marathon in 2018 for the American Liver Foundation. Stevenson was running the race in honor of his father, who passed away from liver cancer in 2017. Kaila ran in memory of a friend who passed away from the same illness at a young age.
The two married, moved to Hopkinton in 2019 and had their daughter, Josephine. The family, along with their beloved golden retriever, Mia, has lived on Lakeshore Drive for the past six years.
Stevenson, a native of Rehoboth, said he moved “all over the place” for years before settling in Hopkinton.
“What sold us was the lake,” he said of the decision to move to town. Other draws to Hopkinton included the proximity to the marathon and the strength of the local school system. But the Lake Maspenock community
now is what drives Stevenson on his charity run of the Boston Marathon. Stevenson will be running on behalf of the Lake Maspenock Preservation Association this year. The goals of the LMPA in preserving the lake and the surrounding community resonate with his own values.
“Having our daughter, things in our life have changed a little bit,” said Stevenson. “We want to make sure she [and others] can enjoy this lake for future generations to come.”
Getting the charity bib from the LMPA was a bit of its own race, Stevenson acknowledged. “In our neighborhood, there’s a whole bunch of runners,” he said. “Thankfully, I was selected for it.”
According to Stevenson’s fundraising page (givengain.com/ project/chris-raising-funds-forlake-maspenock-preservationassociation-90753), his goal is to raise $3,500 for the LMPA. He had reached
about half that amount heading into April. The money will go to support the nonprofit’s efforts to preserve and protect Lake Maspenock and its surrounding communities.
“It’s a big fundraiser for everything that we’re doing for the LMPA,” said Stevenson, noting that the volunteerrun organization’s only other method of fundraising is through memberships.
Money raised will go toward efforts such as education outreach on lake safety and other community events, he noted.
With 10 other marathon runs under his belt, Stevenson is no stranger to the training involved in hitting those 26.2 miles. His priority is to maintain his health as he works himself into shape.
“Overall, the whole goal of Boston is to not be injured and going into the race healthy,” he explained.
Stevenson has a solid community of runners around Lake Maspenock, and he has spent time training with the Hopkinton Running Club. He praised the group, calling it “a great asset for any runner.”
As to why he’s decided to run Boston for a fifth time, Stevenson says it’s a pursuit of passion.
“I fell in love with doing the Boston Marathon,” he said.
For his 11th marathon, Stevenson says “there’s something about Boston that makes it so special and also so humbling.”
By Chris Villani Contributing Writer
Dan Hausermann last ran 26.2 miles a decade ago, completing the Vermont City Marathon. This year, he is making a return to the distance at the world’s most famous marathon, and he and his family’s love for hockey is driving the comeback.
“Both of my kids play for Demons Youth Hockey,” Hausermann, 39, said, noting that his oldest son, Bryce, has been playing for three years and his younger son, Nolan, just completed his first. His wife, Abbie, coaches the team and Hausermann serves as an assistant.
“It’s kind of a family affair,” he said. “We are all often at the rink helping out or playing for the Demons.”
Hausermann has completed a couple of half marathons since the 2015 VCM and said he has always wanted to run the Boston Marathon, particularly since moving to Hopkinton.
“That energy that comes with living in town on marathon day, I always said while watching, ‘I am going to do this next year,’ ” Hausermann said.
“Next year” having finally arrived, Hausermann has been training on parts
of the course in Framingham and some of the hills he will have to run on race day. He said the excitement is palpable, even without the crowds of people lining the route.
“The energy that you feel when you’re just running, but there are other people training for the race, is awesome,” he said. “People are running by you, high-fiving you, cheering for you, and this is a training run on a Saturday in March.”
Hausermann said he has points to
look forward to all along the route, from the start in his town to running through Natick where he taught for 10 years and still knows many families of the kids who were in his classes. And, of course, he said the finish line is going to be great, as is running to fundraise (givengain.com/project/ dan-raising-funds-for-demons-youthhockey-association-90381) for an organization that plays such a big part in the lives of his entire family.
“We have developed a great circle of friends and a big part of our community in town, a lot of them are hockey families,” he said. “We spent a lot of time together inside and outside of the rink. Hockey has played a big
part in that, so it will be some extra motivation to see some of those hockey families along the route and get to wear some Demons gear and represent an organization that has been really important to us.”
After suffering an injury last year, Hausermann said his primary goal through training and the race itself is not to get hurt. He admits his training regimen is a little less rigorous than it was when he was in his 20s, but he is healthy and looking forward to race day.
“The plan is to see my family in Hopkinton, probably somewhere in the Wellesley area, and then hopefully at the finish line,” he said. “And along the way, I want to just enjoy the experience.”
By Chris Villani Contributing Writer
Julie Colantuoni has been a part of the local field hockey scene for some time now. A member of the Hopkinton Youth Field Hockey board, she also is a coach, and this year she will step into the role of marathon fundraiser when she tackles her first Boston Marathon to support the organization she holds near and dear to her heart.
“I have run four half marathons, and I had always wondered if I wanted to run a full marathon,” Colantuoni said. “I wasn’t sure if I could. I had some minor injuries in the past, and I always thought trying the full distance might not go well.”
But then she moved to Hopkinton and, as is so often the case, “caught the running bug.”
Colantuoni said her training has been going well. She has run more than 19 miles during a training run and hired a coach to help guide her through this new experience.
Her fundraising also has gone well, as she set a goal of $6,000 and was more than $2,000 over that as of early April (gofundme.com/f/Julie-Runs-Boston).
“I grew up in Framingham, so my parents used to take my brother and I to watch along the route,” she said. “We would watch either there or in Ashland. I just love the energy. It’s always been such
By Chris Villani Contributing Writer
When Kelly Snyder learned that the Hopkinton Freedom Team was in the market for a charity runner for this year’s Boston Marathon, she reached out to her uncle, Bob, a Hopkinton native.
“He said he had actually attended their meeting the week before and said they are a great organization,” Snyder said. “Hopkinton is a great community, and a big part of their mission is to make sure that community is available to all members of the town, no matter their race, gender or sexual orientation.”
Snyder applied for the organization’s marathon fundraiser and was accepted (givengain.com/campaign/join-us-inmaking-a-difference-via-the-2025boston-marathon-30181), and now she is on the verge of running the hallowed race for the first time.
“I have always been a big fan of the marathon, and it’s always been on my bucket list,” she said, noting that she is following in her uncle’s footsteps.
“He ran it when he was 60, and I thought that was the coolest thing,” Snyder said.
A pediatric oncology nurse who lives in South Boston, Snyder has spent the last several months dodging patches of ice on her training runs around Castle Island and nursing a bit of a shin injury. But she said she is ready and excited for the fast-approaching race day. Snyder saw the race in person for the first time a year ago.
“I worked a night shift at the hospital and I went to the race after my shift,” said the 23-year-old. “I thought I would watch for a bit and then go to sleep. I never ended up going to sleep. The energy and the atmosphere is so cool.”
Snyder plans to run the race with a friend who also is running for charity. She has been training in part by running bits and pieces of the course, and she
said she is excited to see the entire 26.2 miles at once.
“I want to see the towns and all the landmarks that you pass by, and just be out there with everybody else running,” she said.
Snyder admits that she is a little bit shy about the fact that so many people are going to be lining the streets, cheering her and the other participants along. But she is counting on the adrenaline boost to help her through the last several miles while also taking care to make sure she does not go out too fast as she is being pumped up by the throngs of spectators.
Snyder also has family coming from all over to cheer her on. That group includes, of course, Uncle Bob.
“He is going to be at the start line,” she said. “They have been hosting marathoners for years from other countries at their house, they live walking distance from the start line.”
Snyder said she has gotten a bit of the running “itch” and is not convinced that her athletic endeavors will end with the run on Patriots’ Day. A cyclist as well, she said she is entertaining the idea of a triathlon.
“With what I do for work, it’s really nice to have something to focus on outside of work,” Snyder said. “I enjoy having a training plan and sticking to it.”
a fun time of the year.”
In Hopkinton, Colantuoni lives within walking distance of the course and has been taking her two children to watch the race. Those two daughters, Sophie and Emilia, have followed in their mother’s footsteps and are playing field hockey. Colantuoni coached both of them last fall and is happy they have the chance to start in the sport at a younger age than she did growing up.
“I look back, and that is something I really would have enjoyed,” said the 40-year-old. “I love field hockey. I feel like there is something special about this league, it’s such a wonderful experience. I feel that this sport can be so empowering and such an opportunity to build confidence in young girls. It’s been fun to watch them learn the sport and love it.”
On Marathon Monday, the two girls and Colantuoni’s husband, Brock, will be
bouncing around the route to try to see her in as many spots as possible, including the Newton Hills. They will be joined by Hopkinton youth field hockey players, who plan to line the race course with some of Colantuoni’s other family and friends.
A nurse practitioner with an active lifestyle, Colantuoni said she is not sure yet whether the running “bug” will lead to more marathons after this initial race. The hardest part of training, she said, has been making the time to get in her long runs without a lot of leeway for taking time off. But she has been aided by 10 other women who have run with her regularly, many of whom also are running Boston for local charities. She knows the effort will be worth it come race day.
“It’s just a remarkable thing to be a part of,” she said. “I am excited for all of that and to see all of my training come together and getting to treat that day like a celebration of it all.”
By Nik Schofield Contributing Writer
Hopkinton resident Jonny Wolf is “right on pace” with his training program for the Boston Marathon.
“I have one long run a week,” Wolf said in late March, noting he recently had completed a 19-mile run. “Through the week, I’m mixing in shorter runs and just trying to stay fit and healthy.”
Wolf says his training has been restricted because he started training later than other runners. Still, he is focused on the task ahead.
Wolf has a long history of athletic achievement. A former soccer player at the University of New Hampshire, he grew up in Hopkinton’s athletic programs.
“I did all the camps in town — grew up in all the rec leagues,” he said. He recalled having run races at the high school and participating in other athletic activities.
“I’ve kind of always had a running background,” Wolf mused.
Wolf attended high school at Worcester Academy and went on to UNH, where he maintained an active soccer career while achieving his undergraduate and master’s degrees. That career was sidelined in his 2020-21 season after he tore his ACL.
His recovery from the injury partly inspired him to take on running the marathon.
“It’s something I wanted to prove to myself that I could do,” Wolf explained.
Growing up near the start line and a family legacy of marathon running also are sources of inspiration for Wolf. His father, who he describes as a “fitness junkie,” has run three Boston Marathons.
“His brother passed away from cancer when I was growing up,” said Wolf. “[My dad] ran in honor of him and to raise money for cancer research.”
“In a way, I’m honoring my uncle as well,” he added.
Wolf looks to ‘give back to the town’
Wolf will be running to raise money for the Hopkinton Police Association. It’s a cause he says he is happy to support.
“I’m really honored to be running for the police association
Former University of New Hampshire soccer player
Jonny Wolf has a new athletic pursuit of running.
Wolf has set a goal of raising $8,000 for the HPA. As of late March, he had raised nearly 75% of the total funding goal. According to his fundraising website (givengain.com/project/jonny-raising-fundsfor-hopkinton-police-association-92552), the money will help enhance the organization’s outreach efforts and “empower [members] to strengthen community bonds.”
For Wolf, the chance to raise funds for the HPA is an opportunity to give back to the community in which he grew up.
“This town has given me so much through sports and friendships, and I think the town kind of made me who I am,” Wolf said. “I want to give back … and running for the HPA is a great way of doing that.”
Wolf still lives in town with his parents, and he works in outside sales for Cintas. Growing up in town, the Boston Marathon always had been an inspiration.
and all that they do, risking their lives to make our community more safe,” said Wolf.
A combination of searching and connecting with the right people helped Wolf earn the bib from the HPA. He reported that Hopkinton police officer Matt LaTour reached out to him asking if he was interested in running for the organization.
“I was really happy I’d be able to run for them,” Wolf said.
‘I think it’s a really good cause.’
“Going to the marathon start line every year, I was really inspired,” he said. ‘It’s always been a goal of mine.”
With his ACL in a good place and a few years in the workforce under his belt, Wolf said he felt this was the right time to go after his goal.
Cheering him on at the finish line will be his parents, college friends and former teammates.
By Courtney Cornelius Contributing Writer
Jason Jones knows about dedication.
Born in New Jersey, Jones ran track in high school and started doing long-distance races at age 19. He credits the inspiration in part to good examples.
“My sister ran a marathon when I was 20 and she was 40,” Jones recalled. “There was just a real sense of community, and it was great being in that atmosphere of such extreme athletes.”
His passion for endurance challenges led him to complete full marathons, a Spartan Trifecta Weekend and a 19-mile trail race. Along with his sister and two brothers, he’s set a goal of running at least a half marathon in every U.S. state and has completed 32 states so far. Massachusetts will mark his 33rd when he takes on the Boston Marathon on April 21.
“It’s kind of turned into a mini family reunion and a great way to explore the country,” Jones shared.
This is a country he’s done his part to protect. Following in the footsteps of his military parents, Jones joined the Army to
afford college, earning a bachelor’s degree and now finishing his doctorate in strategic leadership at Liberty University. He became a Green Beret and served in multiple countries, and now he declares himself a service “lifer.”
Reflecting on his resilience and perseverance, Jones said, “I read somewhere that the people you hang out with and books you read determine who you become; and I guess I hung around a competitive crowd!”
His girlfriend, Audrey, not only is a military comrade but also a running partner; the two have set a goal to complete all seven major marathons together. She’ll join him on the track in Boston.
It seems appropriate that the Framingham resident who helps to guard “the land of the free” will run to benefit Hopkinton Area Land Trust (hopkintonlandtrust.org/ marathon), an organization responsible for managing conservation land. According to its website, “Keeping our most valuable landscapes intact protects water and air quality, agricultural resources, open space, plant and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation opportunities, and contributes to a better quality of life in our community.”
Boston Marathon 2024 champions
Hellen Obiri of Kenya and Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia announced plans to return to defend their Boston Marathon titles this year.
“Boston annually brings together the world’s best each April, and this Patriots’ Day is no different,” said Jack Fleming, CEO of the Boston Athletic Association. “Coming off an Olympic year, top contenders from around the world have turned their attention to Boston and hope to etch their name into Boston Marathon lore with a victory.”
Obiri, the bronze medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is looking to become the first woman to win three straight at Boston
since Fatuma Roba from 1997-99.
Only four women have won three consecutive Boston Marathon Open Division titles: Bobbi Gibb, Sara Mae Berman, Uta Pippig and Fatuma Roba.
Among those aiming to prevent Obiri’s triple are Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso, 2023’s runner-up, and Yalemzerf Yehualaw, who have the fastest personal record (PR) times in the field (2:14:58 and 2:16:52, respectively).
Also from Ethiopia are Rahma Tusa (2:19:33 PR) and Buze Diriba (2:20:22), who was fourth at Boston last year.
Among the Kenyan contingent are Irine Chapati (2:17:51), two-time Boston champ Edna Kiplagat (2:19:50) and Mary
By Courtney Cornelius Contributing Writer
WhenSandy Pollen joined the cross country team her junior year of high school, she didn’t realize it was a step that would shape her life path.
The Illinois native had started running just for fun, but she soon became more serious about the sport.
“It’s addictive; I love it!” Pollen declared.
When she was 19, she met a fellow athlete, Robert. The two competed together in their first marathon in Chicago — “Thirty years ago this year,” recalled Pollen — when her job as a flight attendant for American Airlines presented the opportunity.
“They sponsored our entry,” Pollen explained.
The pair made a good team and decided to go the distance. Soon, they married and welcomed daughters Katie (now 23) and Emily (21). Robert’s job led them to relocate to Upton, and in 2009, Pollen made a career pivot to become a licensed massage therapist — a field that complements her fitness experience.
That experience includes an impressive list of accomplishments: The 57-year-old has completed more than 20 marathons, including six Ironman triathlons. This year, she’ll run her first Boston Marathon — the pinnacle of her running journey.
“I’ve wanted to run Boston ever since that first race 30 years ago,” Pollen said.
She tried to qualify in 2016 but missed the qualification cutoff by a mere 51 seconds. She wasn’t sure she’d try again, but a friend who belongs to Hopkinton
Women’s Club encouraged her to give it another go on behalf of the organization.
Per its website (hopkintonwomensclub. org), the mission of the Hopkinton Women’s Club is “to improve our community through volunteer service including philanthropic, educational, cultural and social events for members and the community.” The club supports other local charitable organizations, provides scholarships to Hopkinton high school students, and donates to the Michael Lisnow Respite Center, among others.
“They do a lot for the Hopkinton community,” said Pollen, who as of early April was still working to meet her $6,000 fundraising goal (givengain. com/project/sandy-raising-funds-forhopkinton-womens-club-91021). “So I said, ‘You know what, I will take that bib!’ And I’m so grateful to be able to still run, and to do this race that I’ve wanted to do for so long.”
Ngugi-Cooper (2:20:22), along with last year’s runner-up, Sharon Lokedi (2:22:45).
Leading the Americans are Keira D’Amato (2:19:12), Sara Hall (2:20:32), Emma Bates (2:22:10) and 2018 Boston winner Des Linden (2:22:38).
Lemma favored to repeat
Lemma won last year’s men’s race by 41 seconds, and his PR of 2:01:38 ranks fastest among the field.
Top challengers include Kenyans John Korir (2:02:44), two-time Boston champion Evans Chebet (2:03:00), CyBrian Kotut (2:03:22) and Daniel Mateiko (2:04:24), along with Ethiopians Haymanot Alew (2:03:31), two-time Boston winner Lelisa Desisa (2:04:45) and Asefa Book (2:05:40).
Others to watch are Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu (2:04:38), Uganda’s Victor Kiplangat (2:05:09) and Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana (2:06:18).
Conner Mantz (2:07:47) and Clayton Young (2:08:00), who both finished in the top 10 at the 2024 Paris Olympics, headline the American field. C.J. Albertson (2:08:17), who was seventh in Boston last year, is back and looking to move up.
Seven-time men’s wheelchair champion Marcel Hug of Switzerland, coming off a record 1:15:33 finish last year, returns to defend his title. Johnny Smith of Great Britain and Daniel Romanchuk of the United States are among those in pursuit.
On the women’s side, Great Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper returns and will attempt to hold off a field that includes 2023 champion Susannah Scaroni of the United States, four-time champion Manuela Schär of Switzerland and fivetime champion Tatyana McFadden of the United States.
You put in the hours and pushed yourself through sweat, blood and blisters. Sheer grit got you here. Sure, it takes strength, but it takes even more strength of character. And this year, the 50th Anniversary of Boston Marathon’s Wheelchair Division, we acknowledge the accomplishments of differently abled runners who’ve broken down barriers to make the marathon more inclusive. Thank you!
At Price Chopper, we celebrate ability and hire without discrimination.
We’re not just in your neighborhood, we’re your neighbor.
