LYNN — Last spring the St. Mary’s English department was deciding what summer reading book would be relevant for their eighth-grade and high school students. The book they chose was “Stronger” by Jeff Bauman.
“Stronger” describes the events of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, Bauman’s rehabilitation, and the investigation into the bombing, as Bauman was a key witness.
“Jeff Bauman was not in the race but at the finish line and he was the guy standing next to the person who had the bomb. He was actually the one who identified the bomber,” said St. Mary’s English teacher Stacy Drector. “It was his story of how he survived it and his rehab.”
After the students discussed the book when school resumed, Drector and the rest of the English department discussed ways to do something, with the 10-year anniversary of the bombing approaching. That’s when the idea came.
“We knew the track team had a lot of runners and we just thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be a nice way to honor the Marathon by having our own mini-marathon?’” Drector said. “We spoke to Coach [Tristan] Smith and he was 100 percent on board with us.”
“When she approached me with the idea, I was immediately receptive,” Smith, the Spartans track coach, said. “We have 126 (athletes) on the roster right now. It’s really incumbent on me that we be more than just a track team. We are trying to coach young people who will be the next generation of leaders. We want to set an example of doing the right thing and giving back, especially being a big group and having the potential of making a big impact.”
Initially, St. Mary’s planned to have Bauman visit, but he was no longer doing public appearances. Instead, St. Mary’s turned their attention to Martin Richard, the 8-year-old boy who died in the bombings.
“We wanted someone associated with the Marathon, but we also said he was an 8-year-old and he would be 18 (this year),” Drector said. “We have high school students who are graduating at 18. Not only the connection of being Massachusetts kids, but here is a teenager who unfortunately is not here.”
“Let’s do something in his memory, as our seniors are graduating and he would be a senior,” Drector said. “It hits home a little more when the students know he could have been a classmate sitting next to them.”
The St. Mary’s track team will be running a marathon to honor Martin Richard on April 3 at 3 p.m.. The runners are raising money through sponsor sheets and the Spartans hope to raise at least $1,000 for the Martin Richard Foundation. The three students who raise the most money will receive a prize.
The marathon will take place at Manning Field. Smith said four runners will run at a time and, as a team, they will do 26 miles.
“All the runners will have the baton in their hands at some point, contributing to the marathon,” Smith said.
The event is one day before the team’s first meet.
“It’s perfect because the kids will be able to run with all eyes on them,” Smith said. “It works out perfectly for our calendar and our mission as a team.”
Drector hopes people from all over the community will come out and support.
“The National Junior Honor Society members and Rachel’s Challenge members will be providing water and snacks to the runners,” Drector said. “We want everyone to be involved, not just the runners.”
After the event, St. Mary’s is hoping to invite a representative from the Martin Richard Foundation to come and receive the check for the amount they raised.
If you would like to sponsor a runner or make a donation to the Martin Richard Foundation, please contact either Drector at [email protected] or Smith at [email protected].
