By Lenny Strauss
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Since its inception in 1981, the TCS London Marathon has brought out professional runners, elite wheelchair racers and participants of all ages of the public to race on an illustrious course set around the River Thames. Apart from its competitive nature, the Marathon facilitates a vast charity arm as well, with over £1.3 billion having been raised for a variety of different charities since its inception. Inspired by the New York City Marathon, Olympic steeplechase medalists and founders Chris Brasher and John Disley believed the London Marathon would showcase the very best, declaring the event would help people “have fun, and provide some happiness and sense of achievement in a troubled world”. This year, Medfield resident Yiannis Mitropoulos will be participating in and running the Marathon on behalf of Boston Children's Hospital. We at the Hometown Weekly had a chance to talk to Yiannis about his passion for the sport of running, fundraising efforts, and preparation for the upcoming race.
LS: “When did you start participating in/running marathons? How did you come across the London Marathon?”
YM: “I started running in 2019, as a way to get back in shape. COVID hit, which gave me a lot more time to put into running. I ran my first marathon in the spring of 2021. Its been about five years, with London being my fifth marathon. I have run the Boston Marathon previously; London will be a new challenge. I like to do different marathons to get a different feel [of environment], and this one aligned with schedules, and my children’s school vacation. If I was able to get in, I felt like London would be a great experience. Running the London marathon was definitely one I wanted to get off my list. The experience and the challenge of an international marathon is definitely unique and different. Having run for Boston Children’s prior, I applied to run London and received my bid to run through them. Luckily, I got on, and here I am, running and fundraising for Boston Children’s in London!”
LS: “Why Boston Children's? Can you tell us more about Miles for Miracles?”
YM: “Both of my children benefited greatly from Boston Children’s. My son needed surgery to get something removed from his neck when he was 5 or 6 years old. My daughter, at age 7 developed seizures, so we went through Children’s to get treatment for those seizures. We were familiar with the hospital. Knowing how important it is for parents to have an organization like this close by. Children’s is the number one ranked pediatric hospital in the world. When my wife and I were sitting there at our son’s surgery, knowing that we are in the best place that we can possibly be, that was helpful. It is tough to see your child go through major surgery, getting put under. It’s a very scary thought for all parents, and we are very fortunate to be at the best hospital possible for them, this close to us. Others have to drive long distances or even fly in, which requires a lot of time and resources. A part of the fundraising I’m doing is going specifically towards that, helping those families out, providing meal kits, lodging for parents who are staying, for extended periods of time. We’re dealing with kids, so another thing is toys, they need a birthday party, all the extra other stuff we don’t think about as adults, but as a kid it makes the hospital doable. Children need to play! And insurance isn’t going to give money to a hospital for toys. That’s not part of their responsibility. What the Miles for Miracles fundraising does, sends money towards all those helpful conveniences for the kids and their families.”
YM: “Additionally, this year I am also running on behalf of a patient partner. As part of the program, I will be running on behalf of Albie Lomberto. He was born with two medical conditions, both of which could have been lethal. By the time he was five months old, he had two major surgeries at Children’s, one of which was open heart surgery. I am running for him as well. He’s in middle school now, and he’s doing great! Supported greatly by the capabilities of Boston Children’s. It allows my kids and kids like Albie, who are born with these conditions to have a good shot.”
LS: “What is your training regimen like to prepare yourself for a race such as this? Do you train in Medfield?”
YM: “I train in Medfield. I am part of Soles of Medfield, which is our local running group! That has been a tremendous help over these past few years, being part of a local running group. The Soles meet up weekly, generally every Saturday morning, we run typically from the high school, but there are other subgroups that run early in the mornings, and others that run some weeknights. It’s been really good to run with a local group and have others you can run with. All my running is pretty local. The biggest thing is consistency. Getting out and just running as much as you can is the biggest hurdle, but it’s also the biggest benefit. What I’ve noticed over the years, you may not like it, but getting out of bed, getting your clothes on and going for a run, getting the work done is the biggest thing. Its all about finding time and sticking to it. Now that my kids are a little older, it feels like there is less time for this, but I find any way I can, get out there and run a few miles. Finding circumstances, if one of my kids is at an activity, I use that time to run. You have got to stay consistent.”
LS: “Do you plan on running any other marathons, either nationally or internationally?”
YM: “I would like to, I’m focusing mainly on the upcoming one for London, but I would like to also run ultra marathons, which are longer distances, which is another challenge I’d like to take up. Depending on how things go, I am keeping things open for now, keeping my focus on London!”
LS: “Where can we donate?”
YM: “I have my personalized fundraising page, directly through Boston Children’s hospital, a QR code that can take you directly to the page and donate directly to the Children’s hospital.”
YM: “From my interactions with other runners and families I’ve met at the hospital, there are lots of heartwarming stories about why many run. I again am running for my family, and Albie, my patient partner. There are all these stories about how the hospital has helped their cousin, or brother. There are also parents there who have also lost kids, who are there as a remembrance, and tell their story of their experience and the support they receive from Boston Children’s, and they are running on behalf of their children who are no longer with us. They are really touching stories. Children can’t advocate for themselves; they need adults to help them out. That’s why people like me and so many others are here fundraising, sharing stories, all committed to helping this cause. Mostly everyone knows someone, directly or indirectly, who has had care at Children’s, because they treat so many. When I ran the Boston Marathon in my Children’s singlet, the number of people who thanked me for running as spectators, it was clear to me the impact they’ve had.”
To learn more about Yiannis’ fundraiser and his upcoming race, and to donate, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/medfieldermarathon
