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39 members of MIT Strong complete Boston Marathon, raising $176,000

Team exceeds fundraising goal of $142,600 for the Sean A. Collier Memorial Fund.
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Credits:
Photo: Justin Knight
Credits:
Photo: Justin Knight
Credits:
Photo: Justin Knight
Credits:
Photo: David Conlon
Credits:
Photo: David Conlon

Members of the MIT Strong marathon team each had a unique reason for running yesterday’s Boston Marathon — the first since last year’s bombings and manhunt, in which four people lost their lives, including MIT Police Officer Sean Collier.

There were those who knew Collier personally: Rachel DeLucas befriended him through the MIT Outing Club, and Bill King worked alongside him at the MIT Police. Others were inspired by Collier’s life, and wanted to pay tribute.

In total, 40 members of the MIT community joined forces to be part of the MIT Strong marathon team. From faculty to students to staff to alumni, the backgrounds of the team members varied.

However, they ran with a unified purpose: to honor Collier, and to raise money for the Sean A. Collier Memorial Fund, an Institute-created fund that will support an annual Collier Medal. As of last Friday, the team had raised a total of $176,000 — far surpassing its original goal of $142,600.

“The death of Sean Collier affected all of us as members of the MIT community,” says team member Chad Galts, director of communications at the School of Engineering.

Galts says that running the marathon helped provide members of MIT Strong with an opportunity to heal from last year’s tragedies.

“It really was an honor,” Galts says, of the opportunity to represent MIT at the marathon. “There were so many people screaming ‘MIT’ and holding MIT Strong signs."

Of the 40 members of the MIT Strong team, 39 were able to run; each member who ran completed the race. The members of the MIT Strong team, with their finishing time in parentheses, are:

Joseph Azzarelli (4:47:16)

Ryan Borker (3:06:35)

Thomas Brand (3:23:02)

Kris Brewer (5:12:30)

Samantha Carney (6:07:52)

John Cunniffe (4:54:36)

Rachel DeLucas (6:22:40)

James DiCarlo (3:12:37)

Jennifer Gagner (4:12:07)

Chad Galts (5:42:36)

Tom Gearty (5:27:01)

Michael Gerhardt (4:26:55)

Domingo Godoy (3:57:32)

Madeline Hickman (5:29:19)

Bill King (4:15:07)

Stephanie Kloos (5:26:45)

Jean Paul Lauture (4:46:31)

Sarah Lewis (5:17:06)

Maggie Lloyd (3:39:41)

Charlie Maher (5:53:08)

Adam McCready (3:46:02)

Christine Meagher (3:37:36)

Tim Mertz (3:45:12)

Sally Miller (4:09:48)

Brian Mulcahey (4:25:31)

Dava Newman (4:21:35)

Dan Oliver (5:34:31)

Madeleine Pascolini-Campbell (4:27:13)

Thomas Petersen (2:40:17)

Julie Pryor (4:57:56)

Jeremy Rishel (5:27:50)

Jess Rooney Gallagher (5:37:45)

Jonathan Runstadler (4:06:27)

Samuel Shames (3:54:13)

Stephen Shum (3:05:57)

Alexander Slocum (4:21:27)

Nader Tehrani (3:53:51)

Peter Whincop (did not run)

Gordon Wintrob (4:31:08)

Preparing for Monday’s marathon was an intensive process, Galts says. The team trained through a brutal winter, putting in countless miles outdoors and on indoor tracks. But ultimately, team members’ tireless efforts paid off in completing the arduous 26.2-mile course.

“I think the team did an amazing job,” Galts says. “It was not an easy day to run. Some struggled. Some were stronger. But they all finished, and I could not be prouder.”

Press Mentions

USA Today

Hailey Lee reports on how Boston area college students are remembering the Boston Marathon bombings last year, highlighting the memorial ceremony for Officer Sean Collier, as well as the rally held in support of the MIT strong marathon team in a USA Today article.

WHDH 7

Kayna Whitworth of WHDH 7 reports on the MIT Strong marathon team running in honor of Officer Sean Collier.

The Tech

“MIT has backed its own team, MIT Strong, to run the 2014 Boston Marathon in memory of MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, who died in violence following bombings at the 2013 marathon,” writes Tushar Kamath of The Tech. The team is comprised of students, faculty, and staff from across MIT.

NECN

John Moroney of NECN reports on the MIT Strong marathon team. "Together as a team we're strong. We're going to take this city back, we're going to take this day back and that's what motivates me," says MIT Strong runner Julie Pryor.

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