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Dover resident Lindsey McElligott, 35, has never officially run the Boston Marathon. As a freshman soccer player at Wellesley College, McElligott and a friend jumped the line and ran the second half of the marathon, which includes Heartbreak Hill. The two “bandits” finished the race, got their reflective blankets, and went home to eat pizza and sleep for the rest of the day.
On April 17, McElligott will be looking for a more glorious finish when she runs the Boston Marathon for the YMCA of Greater Boston. “I was reading about the different programs that the YMCA has for teens, and supporting this cause makes complete sense to me,” says McElligott. “The teenage years are really a turning point age for kids, and the Y programs open up doors for kids who may not have the path easily defined for them.”
All funds raised by Y Marathon team members will support the YMCA of Greater Boston’s teen programs. This past summer the YMCA of Greater Boston gave out 15,000 free three-month memberships to teens at the Y’s 13 branches with unlimited access and held more than 900 community events. Programs like Safe Dating, Cyber Bulling, Job Readiness, Volunteerism, Leadership, SAT prep and mentoring programs empower and engage youth in productive ways.
“The funds raised through our Boston Marathon team are crucial in helping to meet the growing demands of our teen population,” says James O’S. Morton, CEO and President of the YMCA of Greater Boston. “This past summer was our busiest to date with each of our branches creating programming to fit the needs of the youth in their neighborhoods. YMCA of Greater Boston’s teen programming is an invaluable resource for the youth of our city, keeping them off the streets, out of trouble, and engaged in productive and educational activities.”
The YMCA of Greater Boston is pleased to be a beneficiary of the John Hancock Non-Profit Marathon Program. John Hancock donates hundreds of guaranteed entries into the Boston Marathon each year to select non-profit organizations through their Marathon Non-Profit Program. Organizations use these entries to recruit individual runners who pledge to raise money for their cause.
McElligott played soccer from the time she was four years old until her sophomore year in college. Although running has always been a part of her life, she never willingly ran more than five miles at a time. Now, the dentist and mother of three uses running as a quiet time where she can just focus on one thing. She can think about how far she is running, and really pay attention to how her body is feeling. Although the run is physically grueling, she always comes back feeling like a new person. McElligott also occasionally uses running as family time, recently completing a mile-long run with her six-year-old.
“I have obviously seen the Boston Marathon several times before, and it’s always been on my bucket list to run officially,” says McElligott. “I’m excited to be running for a charity that means something to me. Knowing that I am running for the teens in the YMCA programs has really helped me get motivated to run for them, and really get behind the fundraising.” McElligott has surpassed her fundraising goal. To date, she has raised $13,976 out of a $10,000 goal.
Runners who have qualified to receive a Boston Marathon bib and would like to experience the camaraderie of running with a team while supporting charity are welcome to join the YMCA of Greater Boston’s Marathon team. Runners must raise a minimum of $1,500. For more information on how to join the team or how to support the runners, email ymarathonteam@ymcaboston.org. To learn more about YMCA’s marathon runners, visit http://ymcaboston.org/boston-marathon-team.
For more information about McElligott, or to donate to her upcoming run in the Boston Marathon, visit https://www.crowdrise.com/YMCAGreaterBoston2017/fundraiser/lindseymcelligott.
