Running for Good

Bad things happen to good people all the time, and while we try to understand why, it really just comes down to being part of life. People deal in many different ways, but I think becoming part of something bigger than ourselves is significant in helping some people cope through the grief.

The last six years the Jeff Coombs Memorial Foundation, which we created after 9/11 to give us a positive focus, has been fortunate to be part of something amazing – the John Hancock Boston Marathon Charity Program. The first time we applied for a bib, we were granted one to give to a runner who would be willing to raise at least $5,000 for the Foundation. A college friend of my daughter Meaghan was our willing guinea pig.  She was a runner at Roger Williams University and running Boston was on her bucket list. She exceeded her $5000 goal and added the Boston Marathon to her list of accomplishments. Surpassing our annual goal again the next year, we eventually received two bibs and had no problem recruiting runners from a long list of family friends. While they raised huge sums of money for the Foundation, we in turn were able to help women like Jess Kraiza, Leah Ammon, Meg Yanosick, Chelsei Kane, Brooke Maltby and Kim Lynch achieve their dream of running Boston. Last year we had our first male runners, and with the demand for charity bibs becoming more competitive, we upped our minimum fundraising amount to $7500 per runner. Alex London, my friend’s son, traveled from Edmond, Oklahoma and John “Jack” Walsh, a high school and college buddy of my son, came from Stanford, Connecticut to run and raise an impressive $40,000 with the help of a couple of fundraisers and generous donors, earning us an additional bib for this year.

 Alex’s wife, Dr. Danielle London, an  Orthodontic student at Oklahoma University, was so inspired by her husband in 2016 that she asked to run for us this year and is running her first marathon. So is young mom and nurse from Winchester Margaret Fratus. Wearing the third bib in his first Boston marathon is Air Force National Guard Reservist, decorated Army Veteran, and Ohio Police Officer Andrew Hickey, the son of a friend.

Boston Athletic Association Race Director Dave McGillivray said the Boston Marathon once had an intimidation factor, “but the walls of intimidation have crumbled … (and people are running) for a greater purpose than themselves.” 

That greater purpose is evident, even palpable, among the non-profit coordinators whose role is to guide our marathoners in their effort to raise money for our causes.  As Dave and the John Hancock Corporate Responsibility Team convey to us how special this program is, and how extraordinary the Boston Marathon has become, I feel fortunate, thankful and honored that our Foundation is part of this. John Hancock’s sponsorship of the Boston Marathon has resulted in a partnership with hundreds of non-profits, enabling small and large organizations to raise millions of dollars collectively. John Hancock gets it right -- they provide us with the means to raise money, advise us in the process, and even provide incentives along the way. Every penny we raise goes directly to the foundations for distribution as described in our mission statements.   It has given the Jeff Coombs Memorial Foundation another opportunity to raise upwards of $40,000, which goes out to the families and programs we assist. 

For the seventh year, I will stand on the sidelines in Boston as a very grateful and proud cheerleader to our runners. And I will think about all the good work the money they’ve raised (and will continue to raise through May) can do for those who need it, in the name of Jeff. 

www.crowdrise.com/jeff-coombs-memorial-foundation

Many thanks to all those who've donated or supported the Foundation and our runners' efforts in any way!