The charity runners of the Boston Marathon go the extra mile

Boston Globe

31-03-2025

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TODAY'S STARTING POINT
Today we honor you, Boston Marathon charity runners.
I see you. I'm one of you —
kind of.
I've run four marathons — Chicago, NYC, Philly, and NYC again — three of them for charities I care about: St. Jude, the Red Cross, and Sandy Hook Promise, plus a couple of
It's my secret superpower: I'm no track star, and I'm not qualifying for anything except an AARP card at this point, but I like to raise money for good causes and move my legs while I'm at it. I'm slow, I'm steady, and I'm stubborn and shameless when it comes to asking for money for things that matter. Knowing the miles are adding up to something meaningful keeps me going. I want my kids to see me doing it. I want to do good where I can, instead of feeling like there's nothing I can do to change anything. I think I've raised roughly about $20,000 to help people. I'm proud of that.
But here's the thing: I have never wanted to run Boston for charity. It's too scary! I don't think people really understand what an incredible commitment you all made when you applied to join your charity team and pledged to raise many thousands of dollars for your nonprofit organization in exchange for that Boston Marathon bib. The amount you have to raise for the incredible honor of running Boston is often higher than the minimum for most other prestigious marathons with a charity component. While the minimum is set by the charity you joined, in many cases you are committing to raise $7,500, $10,000, or more.
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My brother and sister ran for Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital's team in 2017 and together had to raise at least $12,000 — $6,000 each, and largely from the same pool of family and friends. (That was practically a bargain. The minimum for this year's team
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My siblings reached their goal — I helped them organize their fund-raisers, more thankful with every passing day that it wasn't my credit card on file — but it was hard and anxiety-inducing. But Spaulding has been there for my family and my brother, a wheelchair racer, a lot over the years, and so this was a labor of love. I know that for each of you, what you're doing is a labor of love, too. And let's not forget, this is on top of training to run an actual freaking marathon. You absolute beasts, you.
I asked Lorna Campbell, the head of public relations for the Boston Athletic Association, how many charity runners would be on the course this year and how much they would raise. The numbers are astounding: There are 176 nonprofits with marathon teams for a total of 3,200 charity runners. (Another
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So as you start to taper your runs in the next couple of weeks — and as your fund-raising deadline gets closer — just know we see you, we appreciate you, and we are cheering you on. In that spirit, your fans at the Globe have created a
And maybe one day I'll be brave enough to follow in your footsteps.
Your No. 1 fan,
Chris Morris
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POINTS OF INTEREST
The Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US.
Maddie Meyer/Photographer: Maddie Meyer/Getty
Boston and Massachusetts
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Hostile work environment:
Patient attacks on health care workers have increased. A nurses union and hospital group
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Thousands gathered at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury to
Catch up:
As Karen Read prepares to stand trial again for allegedly killing her police officer boyfriend,
Trump administration
Intro to semantics:
As universities change their policies
Credit where due:
Pro-Israel groups that created lists of pro-Palestinian activists they accuse of antisemitism are
Trouble among friends:
Trump threatened tariffs if Russia blocks a peace deal with Ukraine, saying he was 'pissed off' about Vladimir Putin's call for a new Ukrainian government. (
Lagging behind:
As other Democrat-controlled states pass measures opposing Trump's actions, Massachusetts lawmakers
Denied:
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Security guard:
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The Nation and the World
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Voted down:
Louisianans rejected all four of their Republican governor's proposed constitutional amendments, including one that would have made it easier to put minors in adult jails. (
Turkey unrest:
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Throwback:
As Russia attacks Ukraine, Norway is reactivating Cold War-era military bunkers used for storing fighter planes. (
BESIDE THE POINT
By Teresa Hanafin, Globe Staff
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Boston at a Bargain:
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This week's TV:
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Popping:
Those popular prebiotic drinks contain inulin, a fiber that's hard to digest and can cause bloating and maybe even cancer. (
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Calming the chaos:
Last year, Somerville's PorchFest clogged the streets of this 80,000-person city. This May, the music event
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Making choices:
In her latest book, writer Maggie Smith says creativity in the craft of writing and in life both require imagination. (
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A sunny revelation:
The new Van Gogh exhibit at the MFA glows with the
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Rooted:
An outdoors writer suggests that instead of burying bodies in a sterile cemetery, we should inter them in living forests. (
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Makeover:
Vienna, replete with rich history, opulent architecture, and intellectual legacies, has undergone a
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Epilogue:
Stephen Bither's role in the Wicked Good Band — as its pianist, vocalist, business manager, van driver, and more — cemented his place in Maine's cultural landscape. He died at 76. (
Thanks for reading Starting Point.
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Chris Morris can be reached at