LYNN – On Monday, the St. Mary’s track and field team, consisting of over 120 student-athletes, ran a collective marathon on the track at Manning Field to raise money for The Martin Richard Foundation.
Richard, at just 8 years old, was one of the three killed in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. The foundation, started by his family, strives to create a more inclusive and peaceful community in his honor.
The event was organized by St. Mary’s English teacher Stacy Drector after the English Department chose “Stronger” by Jeff Bauman, a survivor of the bombings, as last year’s summer reading book.
“It’s the tenth anniversary, so that’s why we chose the book,” said Drector. “Then we spoke to Coach (Tristan) Smith and said ‘Wouldn’t it be great if the track team could help us out and do a mini marathon?’ and he was 100 percent on board.”
Richard would have been a senior in high school this year, which was one of the primary reasons that his foundation was chosen.
“He would have been 18-years-old and our high school kids can identify with somebody who would have been 18-years-old and sitting in a class right with them,” Drector said. “It meant a little more to them by choosing him.”
St. Mary’s senior and track and field athlete Graham Richman was pleased with the turnout from his team at the event, stating that having a team this large come together for a great cause is great to see. He also added that the event was even more powerful for him and the rest of the seniors who are getting ready to graduate and go off to college, something that Richard would have been preparing for as well.
“It’s not many times you see a track team of 130 kids all find a way to get everyone in and participate together as one team,” he said. “I think especially for the captains it really hits hard. You think ‘He would have graduated, he would have been going off to college.’ So, it really hits hard when we’re really thinking about it.”
Among those in attendance was St. Mary’s Head of School Dr. John Dolan, who had just finished the marathon in 2013 when the bombings began. Dolan recalled the moment feeling “surreal.” He remembered finishing the race and speaking with a fellow runner at the finish line when he heard the first bomb detonate.
“The first bomb went off and I was right by where they sit on those lifeguard stands, and I was talking to a guy from Chicago and he’s like ‘Oh that must be a confetti bomb, a celebrity must have finished,’” he said. “Then a second one went off.”
The official in the lifeguard chair then told everyone to clear the area and Dolan, who immediately went searching for his wife, saw police running against the crowd toward the explosions.
“So I ran back and all of these people are just running. I’m looking to my left and my right and all these police and first responders weren’t running away with the crowd, they were running in,” Dolan said.
Each of the students raised money through sponsors and family members, with the goal for total donations set at $1,000. Drector said that $500 had already been raised before the event on Monday, and that donations will continue to be received until April 10.
She said that the hope is to make this an annual event, and possibly change the organization they raise money for each year.
Those looking to make a contribution to the donation total can do so by emailing Drector at [email protected] or Smith at [email protected].
