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Six Needham High School students ran the Providence Marathon last Sunday as part of Dreamfar, a Massachusetts nonprofit that offers marathon training for high school students. Joyce Anglo, Roisin Chatterton, Elsa Konieczynski, Lindsay McKeown, Allie Partridge, and Sarah Partridge took to the pavement prepared, following a 30-week training program. Injured but with them in spirit was Naomi Williams Cole.
School counselors Will Grannan and Meridith Welch have served as mentors and trainers since the program started at Needham High School three years ago. Welch ran with the students on Sunday, completing her third marathon with the program. Grannan, who was injured this year, traveled to Providence to cheer from the sidelines.
Dreamfar started in 2008 and has since spread to 15 schools across greater Boston. The program is designed to help high school students build confidence and achieve the physical, social, and emotional benefits of preparing for a marathon. The six NHS students joined more than 120 students and 80 adult mentors from Dreamfar running in the marathon.
Over the course of the training, students from different schools get to know each other and form a strong bond. “Everyone is so supportive of each other,” says NHS senior Sarah Partridge. “When the routes cross, everyone high-fives each other.”
