My Marathon for Martin
Donation protected
PLEASE help me raise money to support the Richard Family Fund! Read on to learn why...
As a former Bostonian and marathoner (NYC 2003), I felt deeply impacted by the events of April 15th. I've called Boston "home"; I've experienced the pain and jubilation of participating in a marathon; I've even been along that race course as a volunteer and spectator. I know what that day, that finish line, and that city are supposed to feel like instead of the cruel fate that was delivered upon the hundreds of victims of that day.
I was particularly touched by the story of the Richard family, hugely affected by this attack, but also so relatable to many people like my husband and me. We, too, are in our 30s, raising 3 kids, and runners who participate in races and enjoy having our children cheer us to the finish. It is heartbreaking to imagine how this family copes with the loss of their 8-year-old son, Martin. It is unfathomable to think about healing from those wounds while also healing from literal ones. Their 7-year-old daughter (Jane) lost her leg and continues to recover at Children's Hospital in Boston. Mom (Denise) suffered a serious injury to her eye, resulting in sight loss. Dad (Bill) took shrapnel from the bomb in the legs and has some hearing loss that is expected to be temporary. Henry, the oldest of the three children, miraculously did not suffer physical injuries from the blast.
And so, while I do not and never will know the Richard family, I have an idea what life was like for them before April 15, 2013, and I feel compelled to reach out and help pull them through this awful moment in time.
I wish I could run a marathon in Martin's memory and the family's honor, but my knees no longer allow that distance. However, I will run a "marathon of races" "“ a little over 26.2 miles of road races (seven 5Ks and one 10K) - from now through October. Through this webpage I am seeking donations that I will direct to The Richard Family Fund, established by friends of the family to help them through medical bills and other services they will encounter as part of their new reality.
I am setting a modest of goal of $500, as I know that people are often asked to support numerous causes in addition to the everyday financial demands of their lives. I can find 100 people to give at least $5, right? It would thrill me to shatter this goal, however, and be able to send the family WAY more! Please support me in any way you can and share the link to this page with your network of family, friends, colleagues, Facebook friends, or Twitter followers.
I am happy to provide more information or answer questions. Learn more about the fund I am supporting at http://richardfamilyfund.org/
As a former Bostonian and marathoner (NYC 2003), I felt deeply impacted by the events of April 15th. I've called Boston "home"; I've experienced the pain and jubilation of participating in a marathon; I've even been along that race course as a volunteer and spectator. I know what that day, that finish line, and that city are supposed to feel like instead of the cruel fate that was delivered upon the hundreds of victims of that day.
I was particularly touched by the story of the Richard family, hugely affected by this attack, but also so relatable to many people like my husband and me. We, too, are in our 30s, raising 3 kids, and runners who participate in races and enjoy having our children cheer us to the finish. It is heartbreaking to imagine how this family copes with the loss of their 8-year-old son, Martin. It is unfathomable to think about healing from those wounds while also healing from literal ones. Their 7-year-old daughter (Jane) lost her leg and continues to recover at Children's Hospital in Boston. Mom (Denise) suffered a serious injury to her eye, resulting in sight loss. Dad (Bill) took shrapnel from the bomb in the legs and has some hearing loss that is expected to be temporary. Henry, the oldest of the three children, miraculously did not suffer physical injuries from the blast.
And so, while I do not and never will know the Richard family, I have an idea what life was like for them before April 15, 2013, and I feel compelled to reach out and help pull them through this awful moment in time.
I wish I could run a marathon in Martin's memory and the family's honor, but my knees no longer allow that distance. However, I will run a "marathon of races" "“ a little over 26.2 miles of road races (seven 5Ks and one 10K) - from now through October. Through this webpage I am seeking donations that I will direct to The Richard Family Fund, established by friends of the family to help them through medical bills and other services they will encounter as part of their new reality.
I am setting a modest of goal of $500, as I know that people are often asked to support numerous causes in addition to the everyday financial demands of their lives. I can find 100 people to give at least $5, right? It would thrill me to shatter this goal, however, and be able to send the family WAY more! Please support me in any way you can and share the link to this page with your network of family, friends, colleagues, Facebook friends, or Twitter followers.
I am happy to provide more information or answer questions. Learn more about the fund I am supporting at http://richardfamilyfund.org/
Organizer
Laurie Kirkpatrick Carty
Organizer
South Windsor, CT
