Running enthusiasts from all over the world travel to Massachusetts to partake in the annual Boston Marathon, held every April on President’s Day. This year, David Veling, a special education teacher at the high school, is participating in the marathon.

Veling is not running solely for exercise purposes. He has been offered a spot to run on the Miles for Miracles team, which raises funds for families and patients who are served by Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). Veling has a close connection to Children’s Hospital, his son, James. When James was born, he suffered a stroke. Since then, he has been with dozens of doctors and specialists at Boston Children’s Hospital who have all treated him with exceptional care. David knows James’ future will consist of health and learning problems, but he is confident that the staff at Boston Children’s Hospital will support James every step of the way.

The care received from BCH has made it possible for James to engage in his favorite activities, such as running. At just six-years-old, James ran a 5k alongside his father. This would not have been possible without BCH. Veling is encouraging friends, family, and members of the community for donations for the run, all of which would go to Boston Children’s Hospital. His goal is to reach $15,000 in donations. To find out more about Veling’s run or to donate, go to Veling’s Boston Children’s Hospital team fundraising page or click here.

On April 20th, 2020, Boston will host the 124th annual marathon with participants from 112 countries and all 50 states. The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual Marathon dating back all the way to 1897, which only had 18 participants according to The Boston Athletic Association. The Boston Marathon is held on each Patriots day with an average of 30,000 participants, a significant increase from the first marathon. 

Two local participants running the 2020 marathon are brothers, Jay and Adam Frontierro. This year will be Jay’s second time participating in the Boston Marathon and Adam’s first. The Frontierro’s are running for the non-profit charity known as the Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation. The foundation was created by the Middlemiss family and friends in memory of their baby boy, Joseph Middlemiss. 

Joseph passed away in September of 2013 at the age of six. He suffered from a disease known as “cardiomyopathy”. Cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease that causes the heart to struggle to deliver blood throughout the body. The Joseph Middlemiss Foundation is dedicated to raising money for funding cardiomyopathy research and supporting families battling pediatric cardiac conditions. The money will help the families pay medical bills, buy groceries, and gas so they can focus on caring for their child. The foundation also spreads love, joy, and kindness to all as Joseph did in his daily life. 

Training for the marathon is intense and meticulous work. For first time runners such as Adam, there are around twenty weeks of training time. Training includes running at least 30-40 miles a week, a healthy diet, and weight lifting once or twice a week. For runners who are time qualifiers, such as Jay, run around 70 miles a week. Training is especially crucial for running in Boston because unlike other major marathon courses, Boston has tight twists and turns and brutal, long uphill runs.

The course begins in Hopkinton and ends on Boylston Street with numerous historical landmarks for the runners to pass as they complete the marathon. Water, food, energy gel, course clocks, and mile/kilometer signs are conveniently place along the course as the runners need. Medical staff are found throughout the course to treat injured or exhausted runners.

Celebrations are held after the marathon is over where participants can eat, drink, interact, party, and receive jackets with their time embroided on the back as a simple memento for a great achievement. Runners also share training techniques and overall experiences of running. 

Runners from all over the world participate in the Boston Marathon for various reasons, many of which are to raise money for charities. Each year the Boston marathon succeeds in creating a sense of unity and pride for the runners and those who have come to support them.