About the Marathon Team Since 1998, with the partnership of John Hancock Financial, the Mass General Marathon Team has raised over $6.7 million to support the pediatric hematology-oncology program at... Learn More

About the Marathon Team Since 1998, with the partnership of John Hancock Financial, the Mass General Marathon Team has raised over $6.7 million to support the pediatric hematology-oncology program at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC). Funds raised are directed to cancer care and research initiatives that enhance the quality of life for the hospital’s youngest cancer patients. Apply to run on the 2012 Mass General Marathon Team today! Patient-Partner Program The MassGeneral Marathon Team is centered around the Marathon Patient-Partner Program, in which runners are paired with patients undergoing cancer treatment at MGHfC. When our runners set out on Boston’s grueling 26.2-mile course, they not only raise funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research; they inspire and bring hope to the youngest patients we serve. Last year, 50 children undergoing treatment were paired with Mass General runners. Some runners take part to support young patients they already know and love while others bond with a courageous child they have never met through the Patient-Partner Program. At an emotional pre-race pasta party and ceremony on the night preceding the marathon, runners presented a medal of honor to their patient-partner. It symbolizes a shared personal commitment in the fight against pediatric cancer, and represents all the hope we have that our efforts at Mass General will lead to a cure for this devastating disease. The Child-Life Program The Child-Life Program within the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at MGHfC benefits every year from the funds raised by the Marathon Team. The program utilizes therapeutic play — including music and art therapy, massage and acupuncture — to help pediatric cancer patients and their families cope emotionally and developmentally with their illnesses. This year, more patients than ever before utilized Child-Life services, an indication of the growing popularity of the programming, the recognition of its importance and the program’s ability to continue to expand its offerings — thanks in large part to philanthropic dollars. Learn More Learn more about the causes we support and the pediatric hematology-oncology program at MGHfC at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children web site. Hide

Team Brigham is a group of runners dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for low-income families in the Greater Boston area. Each member of the team commits to running the Boston Marathon and... Learn More

Team Brigham is a group of runners dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for low-income families in the Greater Boston area. Each member of the team commits to running the Boston Marathon and raising a minimum of $5,000 to support Brigham and Women’s Hospital community health programs. In 2011, Team Brigham runners raised more than $425,000—and since the program’s inception in 1998, the team has raised more than $5 million dollars to support programs to improve the health and opportunities of the underserved in our communities. Here are some ways this fundraising MAKES A DIFFERENCE: ·         $350 pays for a wig for a woman with breast cancer ·         $450 buys a compression garment for a woman with breast cancer ·         $1,200 covers one year of comprehensive assistance through the Connecting Hope, Assistance, and Treatment (CHAT) Program for low-income women with breast cancer ·         $2,500 provides one year of support groups and educational materials to survivors of domestic violence ·         $3,000 provides 15 high school juniors in the Student Success Jobs Program (SSJP) intensive monthly workshops and personal consultation to prepare their college applications, apply for financial aid, and make informed decisions about where to attend college ·         $5,000 provides back-to-school clothing for approximately 100 children whose mothers are victims of domestic violence ·         $7,500 supports the Passageway program’s emergency fund for one year, supplying victims of domestic violence and their children with items such as food, clothing, transportation, changes in apartment/home locks, rental and utilities assistance, and more ·         $15,000 pays for school-year internships for 15 teens in the SSJP ·         $20,000 pays for summer internships for 15 teens in the SSJP ·         $40,000 covers one year of advocacy for domestic violence victims and survivors at one community health site affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital For more information about Team Brigham, Community Health and how you can run the Boston Marathon, visit TeamBrigham.org Hide

At Mass. Eye and Ear, our focus is your quality of life.  We treat everything that has to do with the eyes, ears, nose, throat, head and neck - so that you and those you care about can get more out of the... Learn More

At Mass. Eye and Ear, our focus is your quality of life.  We treat everything that has to do with the eyes, ears, nose, throat, head and neck - so that you and those you care about can get more out of the world around us. Our physicians are more than just specialists; each is also a researcher and a teacher.  These doctors don't just apply the latest advances in medicine; they invent them.  Together with Mass. Eye and Ear scientists, they work tirelessly to understand the root causes of diseases that both take people's lives and rob too many others of their quality of life. Every dollar raised makes it possible for Mass. Eye and Ear to excel in clinical care, research and medical education.  That, in turn, allows us to provide the finest specialty care to every person who comes through our door and to share our knowledge in order to help patients around the world. Thank you for your support. Hide

Rick Hoyt was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt.  During child birth, Rick's umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck cutting off the supply of oxygen to Rick's brian.  He was diagnosed as a... Learn More

Rick Hoyt was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt.  During child birth, Rick's umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck cutting off the supply of oxygen to Rick's brian.  He was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy.  Doctors advised Dick and Judy to institutionalize Rick because he was a vegetable.  Dick and Judy refused and brought Rick home. Dick and Judy could tell that Rick could comprehend his surroundings even though the medical doctors continued to insist Rick was a vegetable.  In 1972, the Hoyt's took a second mortgage on their home, borrowing $5,000.  They paid that amount to a group of skilled engineers at Tufts University that built an "interactive computer" for Rick.  Rick was able to see the letters of the alphabet and select the ones he wanted by pressing a pad on the headrest of his wheelchair with his head, the only part of his body he can move voluntarily.  The first words Rick ever "spoke" were "Go Bruins!"  The Boston Bruins were in the Stanley Cup that year and it turned out Rick was a Bruins fan. In the spring of 1977, Rick told his dad that he wanted to compete in a 5 mile road race to help raise money for a lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident.  Dick, a non-runner pushed Rick for the full 5 miles, and they finished next to last.  Later that night, Rick typed "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped."  And that is when it all started. To date, Team Hoyt has finished 240 triathlons, 6 Ironman distance triathlons, 92 half marathons, 69 marathons, 32 Falmouth 7.1 milers, have a marathon PR of 2:40:47 and half marathon PR of 1:21:12.  They are two of only 25 total members of the Ironman Hall of Fame, carried the Olympic torch in 1996 and rode a bike from Santa Monica, CA to Boston Harbor in 45 consecutive days. Last August, the Hoyt's received an e-mail from Boston Bruins' defenseman Andrew Ference that read, "I wanted to let you know that the Boston Bruins watched and were inspired by your video prior to our Stanley Cup victory.  It would be my honor to meet you and have you join me in Boston during my day with the Stanley Cup."  And they did. On Monday, April 16, 2012, Dick and Rick Hoyt will be running their 30th Boston Marathon.  They will be joined by a team of 40 carefully selected athletes from Australia, Canada and across the United States to form the 2012 Team Hoyt Boston Marathon Team.  The team will be runningt to raise money for the Hoyt Foundation, Inc., an IRS 501(c)(3) charity whose purpose is help integrate handicapped people into everyday activities so they may live fruitful and productive lives. None of the funds raised go to administration of the Hoyt Foundation as it is 100% run by volunteers.  The Hoyt Foundation gives gifts each year of $25,000 to the Easter Seals of MA.  summer camp programs, to Children's Hospital Boston- Augmentative Communication Enhancement Program,  and to the Elm Hill Center in Brookfield, MA. The Foundation also makes various donations to camps for the disabled and therapuetic horseback organizations in the Massachusetts area. This years team is made possible by our generous sponsor and principal sponsor of the Boston MArathon, John Hancock.  We are very fortunate to be coached again this year by three time Boston Marathon Champion, former No. 1 ranked marathoner in the world, New York City Marathon Champion, Berlin Marathon Champion and former world record holder Uta Pippig. Our team of both qualified and chairty runners have set a fundraising goal of $200,000 which would eclipse our former record by $75,000.  Please give generously as our runners train, sweat, hurt and raise funds for the Hoyt Foundation, Inc.  The Hoyt Foundation, Inc. is an IRS 501(c)(3) charity.  Checks can be made payable to the Hoyt Foundation, Inc. and mailed to 241 Mashapaug Road, Holland, Massachusetts 01521. Hide

The Myra H. Kraft Giving Back Scholarship Fund was established in 2003 by Myra’s four sons to honor her on the occasion of Robert and Myra's 40th wedding anniversary.  The Fund provides financial... Learn More

The Myra H. Kraft Giving Back Scholarship Fund was established in 2003 by Myra’s four sons to honor her on the occasion of Robert and Myra's 40th wedding anniversary.  The Fund provides financial support for college to outstanding members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston (BGCB) who give their time and talents to the community and understand the importance of helping others.  Since Myra’s passing in July 2011, the Fund has grown significantly and will provide more Club members with critical financial aid for college for generations to come. According to The College Board, a typical full-time, year-round worker with a four-year college degree earns greater than 60% more than a high school graduate during  his/her working life.  The majority of our Club members come from low-income communities where only a small percentage of adults have attended college.  In fact, 50% of our members come from households with an annual income of less than $27,000.  BGCB's mission is to help young people, especially those who need us most, build strong character and realize their full potential as responsible citizens and leaders.  By supporting the Myra H. Kraft Giving Back Scholarship Fund you will help extend the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston to further impact the lives of the individuals we serve. Hide

Team BMC is running the Boston Marathon in support of Boston Medical Center. Boston Medical Center is a private, not-for-profit, 508-bed, academic medical center located in Boston’s historic South End. The... Learn More

Team BMC is running the Boston Marathon in support of Boston Medical Center. Boston Medical Center is a private, not-for-profit, 508-bed, academic medical center located in Boston’s historic South End. The hospital is the primary teaching affiliate for Boston University School of Medicine. Boston Medical Center emphasizes community-based care, with its mission to provide consistently accessible health services to all. The largest safety net hospital in New England, Boston Medical Center provides a full spectrum of pediatric and adult care services, from primary to family medicine to advanced specialty care. With the largest 24-hour Level I trauma center in New England, our Emergency Department had 131,288 visits last year. Team BMC helps raise awareness of Boston Medical Center's mission and supports the hospital's ability to offer the necessary services and programs to meet patients' needs. Some of the exceptional programs at Boston Medical Center include: The Kids Fund, Cancer Support Services Fund, the Preventive Food Pantry & Demonstration Kitchen, Nutrition and Fitness for Life and so many more. Hide

Spaulding Rehabiliation Hospital's Race for Rehab Team is proud to be running as part of the John Hancock Marathon Program. Our team will be racing to raise funds toward Spaulding's Annual Fund. Our... Learn More

Spaulding Rehabiliation Hospital's Race for Rehab Team is proud to be running as part of the John Hancock Marathon Program. Our team will be racing to raise funds toward Spaulding's Annual Fund. Our Annual Fund will support all of the hospital's most pressing needs. Spaulding prides itself on rehabilitation with a critically important "can-do" attitude. We encourage our patients to find their strength after suffering from injury or illness. We offer six major rehabilitation programs, based at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. Each rehab program is interdisciplinary, bringing the skills of a team of rehabilitation specialists to bear on the unique needs of each patient. Our programs offer rehabilitation in the following areas: Amputee and Vascular Disease Rehabilitation Brain Injury Rehabilitation Child and Adolescent Rehabilitation Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Stroke/Neurology Rehabilitation Spaulding is in the process of building a state-of-the-art new hospital in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Your New Hospital will be a very special resource for Greater Boston, New England, and beyond. It will greatly enhance clinical capacities, provide comfortable and accessible patient accommodations, promote a truly transformative clinical research enterprise, and be a source of aesthetic enjoyment for the community.   Members of Spaulding’s Race for Rehab Team have many benefits including: • Team training runs • Training tips from one of Spaulding’s Physical Therapists • Individual personalized fundraising websites • Team meetings and fundraising assistance • Pre-Marathon pasta dinner • Exclusive chance to meet with team captain Ernst van Dyk, nine-time Men’s Push Rim Wheelchair champion of the Boston Marathon • Marathon Monday viewing party for family and friends to watch the race and meet the runners afterward Hide

At Project Hope we help families believe in their own possibilities and to break through the barriers that keep them poor. On April 16, our team of dedicated runners broke through the sweltering heat to run the... Learn More

At Project Hope we help families believe in their own possibilities and to break through the barriers that keep them poor. On April 16, our team of dedicated runners broke through the sweltering heat to run the Boston Marathon in support of Project Hope. Thank you to our team for directly impacting opportunities for homeless families in Boston, and thank you for connecting us to your generous supporters, who joined us in our mission. Hide

Bottom Line was founded in 1997 to help low-income and first-generation students get in to college, graduate from college, and go far in life. Since then, we have provided one-on-one guidance and mentoring to... Learn More

Bottom Line was founded in 1997 to help low-income and first-generation students get in to college, graduate from college, and go far in life. Since then, we have provided one-on-one guidance and mentoring to thousands of high school and college students. This year, we will be providing personalized support to nearly 2,000 students across Massachusetts and New York. Bottom Line's 2012 Boston Marathon Team will run 26.2 miles on April 16th (plus a few hundred more during training) as a way to contribute to our organization and the students we support. We're hoping to raise more than $75,000 this year through our marathon team, which makes a huge impact on our organization. I hope you'll consider making a contribution to the team or a specific runner. Thank you. Whatever you can contribute will help our students get in, graduate, and go far! Hide

Running the Distance for Suicide Prevention Thank you for visiting the 2012 Samaritans Marathon Team homepage! Our team is raising awareness and funds for Samaritans, Inc, a non-profit... Learn More

Running the Distance for Suicide Prevention Thank you for visiting the 2012 Samaritans Marathon Team homepage! Our team is raising awareness and funds for Samaritans, Inc, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the incidence of suicide in Greater Boston and Metrowest. This year's event will be held on Monday, April 16, 2012. Thanks to the John Hancock Non-Profit Marathon Program, this is the fifth consecutive year that Samaritans has received bib numbers for our Marathon Team. All proceeds generated from this year's team will benefit Samaritans' suicide prevention services including our 24-hour crisis helplines, which answered over 150,000 calls last year; our prevention services that provide hundreds of Community Education and Outreach workshops annually; and our Grief Support Services that provide support to thousands for those who have lost a loved on to suicide. For more information about Samaritans life-saving programs, please visit our http://www.samaritanshope.org. Last year's team raised almost $60,000 for Samaritans and we are hoping to build upon their success in 2012! There are many ways to help us reach our ambitious goal: Please consider making a donation. You can donation directly to one or more of our runners (see their individual pages below), or you can make a general donation to the entire team.  Join our Team! Are you someone who has qualified to run the Boston Marathon and want to make your marathon experience more meanginful by training, running and fundraising with the Samaritans Team? Let us know! You can start by creating an free fundraising account here on Crowdrise, but please email Marathon Team Manager, Garrett Owen, and let him know as well! Want to fundraise with our team, even though you are not a runner? That's still OK! Feel free to create a Crowdrise account and start asking friends and family to make a donation. Our team greatly appreciates your help! No matter how you decide to contribute, please know that your support will help ensure that our confidential and anonymous befriending services remain available to the members of our community who are feeling lonely, desperate and suicidal. Thank you so much! Hide

Team Rett FundRacers will be raising money for the very first clinical trial of the IGF1 growth hormone currently underway at Children's Hospital Boston in hopes that Rett syndrome can be reversed! Seen... Learn More

Team Rett FundRacers will be raising money for the very first clinical trial of the IGF1 growth hormone currently underway at Children's Hospital Boston in hopes that Rett syndrome can be reversed! Seen almost exclusively in girls, Rett syndrome is a unique developmental disorder caused by mutations on the X chromosome on a gene called MECP2. A rare disease, the incidence of Rett syndrome is about 1 in 10,000 females. The course of Rett syndrome, including the age of onset and severity varies from child to child. As the syndrome progresses, most children lose purposeful use of their hands and the ability to speak. Other symptoms may include loss of motor skills, breathing and cardiac irregularities, seizures, digestive problems, scoliosis, and tremors. Although Rett syndrome leaves all girls and women dependent on others for all of their basic needs, tremendous advances in research have been made since the MECP2 mutation was discovered in 1999. This IGF1 groundbreaking clinical trial, now being conducted by Dr. Omar Khwaja and his team at Children's Hospital Boston, is the first disease-modifying therapy to be tested on girls with Rett. Greeted by an outpouring of enthusiasm from the Rett syndrome community, this trial is giving families enormous hope for a brighter future. Please support Team Rett in its efforts to fund research that may lead to a cure for Rett syndrome!   Hide

The 2012 Run for Homeless Children Team Since its inception in 2001, the Run for Homeless Children team has raised over $1 million to support Horizons for Homeless Children (HHC). Each year, a team of... Learn More

The 2012 Run for Homeless Children Team Since its inception in 2001, the Run for Homeless Children team has raised over $1 million to support Horizons for Homeless Children (HHC). Each year, a team of passionate and committed HHC supporters runs the Boston Marathon to fundraise and spread the word about the crisis of child and family homelessness. Your support of these incredible runners will make a difference in the lives of homeless children.  Please take a moment to learn about the challenges that homeless children face, and how your support of HHC can and will help to break the cycle.  Child and Family Homelessness: Key Facts This year in the U.S., 1 in every 45 children will be without a home. There are over 100,000 homeless children across MA, half of whom are under the age of 6. Family homelessness is the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, making up 40% of the group. Without the intervention of such critical programs as Horizons for Homeless Children, young homeless children are at risk of serious developmental problems.   Horizons for Homeless Children: Key Facts Playspace Programs: shelter-based spaces for kids, “staffed”by 1,400 volunteers; currently over 140 Playspaces in MA, serving 2,200 children weekly. Community Children’s Centers: 3 Boston early education/childcare centers, serving 175 young children each day; parent support services. Family Partnership Program: longterm support of families as they transition to permanent housing. Evaluation & Innovation Program: formal measurement of program impact on children and families served. Training & Technical Assistance: sharing expertise on issues facing young homeless children/families with service providers. Policy & Advocacy: relationship-building w/ policymakers to improve services for homeless children/families. Learn more at www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org Hide

Our dedicated team of marathoners are committed to running the 2012 Boston Marathon to support the work of Golf Fights Cancer. GFC is a non-profit organization that taps into the passion and generosity of all... Learn More

Our dedicated team of marathoners are committed to running the 2012 Boston Marathon to support the work of Golf Fights Cancer. GFC is a non-profit organization that taps into the passion and generosity of all golfers to raise much needed funds for cancer-related organizations. Through sports inspired events, GFC makes directed gifts that are specifically targeted for equipment, research, services or projects that make a tangible in the fight against cancer. Hide

Members of Team Joslin are charitably minded individuals from all over the world who compete in athletic events to raise money for Joslin Diabetes Center’s High Hopes Fund. These events contribute to... Learn More

Members of Team Joslin are charitably minded individuals from all over the world who compete in athletic events to raise money for Joslin Diabetes Center’s High Hopes Fund. These events contribute to Joslin’s cutting-edge research and the most comprehensive diabetes patient care and education in the world. Team Joslin incorporates the spirit of giving with maintaining an active lifestyle – two essential elements in the fight against diabetes. With 25.8 million people in the U.S. living with diabetes and another 79 million showing pre-diabetic symptoms, it is critical that you support Team Joslin and our High Hopes fund today. Hide