Four Charlestown residents will run in the 122nd Boston Marathon on April 16 as part of the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Pediatric Oncology Team, Fighting Kids’ Cancer … One Step at a Time, and the Emergency Response Marathon Team. The two teams, which include former patients and family members, Mass. General employees and longtime hospital supporters, will join an estimated 30,000 runners along the 26.2 mile course that spans from Hopkinton to Boston’s Boylston Street. Funds raised by the runners will benefit essential patient services as well as research and training programs at Mass. General.
Pediatric team participants include Holly Irvin, Ilana Cohen, and Jaymi Cohen. Stephanie Halks will run on behalf of the emergency response team.
The pediatric team, made up of 102 runners, aims to raise more than $1,075,000 this year to support cancer research initiatives, as well as quality-of-life programming such as art and music therapy; support groups; and child life specialists who help patients and their families cope with illness and treatment. The emergency response team’s 40 runners hope to collectively raise $430,000 to provide critical support for emergency care, disaster relief and disaster preparedness teaching and training at Mass. General, efforts that benefit victims worldwide.
Since its founding in 1998, the Mass. General Pediatric Oncology Team, in partnership with John Hancock, has raised more than $13.4 million to support research and activities for children with cancer. The emergency response team, which was guaranteed entries after the hospital’s response to the 2013 marathon bombings, has raised over $1.4 million for essential programs and services.
“Each of our runners has dedicated countless hours to their training and fundraising efforts,” says Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the Massachusetts General Hospital. “On behalf of the MGH community, I salute and thank these individuals who dedicate so much of themselves to support our efforts to improve the health of others.”
To learn more about the Mass General pediatric and emergency response teams, please go to https://giving.massgeneral.org/boston-marathon .