Many Natick residents are registered to take part in the 2023 Boston Marathon on April 18. Some have qualified by posting fast times in previous races, while others are participating to raise funds for charities in Natick and beyond.
Here’s a form you can fill out if you’d like us to include your Boston Marathon profile (including a link to your fundraising site) on this page. Please, only those who either live in Natick, or who are taking part in the race for a Natick charity, should fill this out. We’ll try to get entries added to this page within a day or two of receiving them.
Runner: Aaron Stevens
Charity & fundraising page: Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge
Why you’re running for this cause: In December of 2014, my father Michael Stevens was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He was lucky, in that the tumors were very early stage and were removed successfully. Nonetheless, there were several medical complications from his extended hospitalization, and in January of 2015, I thought we were going to lose him. My dad recovered from his initial hospitalization, and for the past year he has been undergoing immunotherapy treatment at the University of Chicago. Things are looking good, and I’m very hopeful that this cancer will not return. In March of 2017, my dad’s brother Elliot Stevens was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Elliot’s cancer was fast moving, and he survived only 3 months after diagnosis. I am heartbroken for my cousins who lost their father, my cousins kids who will never know their grandfather. I am passionate about running, and I want to use my running effort to help others. I can’t think of any better way to do this than to run the Boston Marathon to raise money for cancer research through the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge.
How many Boston Marathons have you run? 8
Fun fact about your running: I am a collaborative runner, and I love helping other runners reach their running goals. I am a regular marathon pacer. (A pacer runs at a predictable pace to help others achieve their goal times). I have paced 22 marathons in 17 states, and aspire to pace marathons in all 50 states.
Runner: Michele Grieves
Charity & fundraising page: Spark Kindness
Why you’re running for this cause: From the moment I first talked with Michele Marotta I knew this would be an opportunity to be part of something positive. Her passion and enthusiasm for the programs Spark Kindness provide were evident in every sincere & heartfelt word. It’s a privilege to be fundraising for this exceptional nonprofit and making a difference to the community.
How many Boston Marathons have you run? 14 consecutive
Fun fact about your running: Oh my! I’m not sure. Maybe that I got this crazy idea in my head that I want 60 marathons by age 60. I’m currently at #56 and have until November to reach my goal. Fingers crossed! Lol
Runner: Cait Siebenmorgen
Charity & fundraising page: Natick Redhawk Foundation
Why you’re running for this cause: I want to give back to the community that has brought my family so much joy these past 10 years!
How many Boston Marathons have you run? This will be my 2nd Boston Marathon. First time was virtual do I can’t wait to run through Natick Center with the crowd!!
Fun fact about your running: I have an amazing tribe by my side in Natick. Gianna and Jeff at Rebound for injury prevention, Cynthia Frongillo at D’Arcy Wellness for monthly recovery massages, Eli’s for a weekly Little Eli post long run, and my family and friends who have cheered me on along the route each week!
Runner: Brian Bushard
Charity & fundraising page: Natick Community Organic Farm
Why you’re running for this cause: The Natick Community Organic Farm has been a landmark in the community for decades, teaching kids about the importance of sustainable agriculture and providing delicious locally-grown produce to the town. I learned about sustainability at the farm, and it’s their commitment to local farming that’s helped spread the message about why local food, from local farmers, is so important.
How many Boston Marathons have you run? First timer
Fun fact about your running: I also ran on the Natick High cross country team and grew up watching the marathon, but I’m not a runner, exactly.
Runner: Judy Dixon
Charity & fundraising page: PATH for Inclusion
Why you’re running for this cause: PATH for Inclusion (Parents’ Association for the Handicapped) supports recreational programs for children and adults with disabilities in the Natick area. PATH helps to fund training, staffing, and equipment needs at Camp Arrowhead, the oldest camp of its kind for people with special needs in the United States. It also supports Big Res, a week of residential camp provided in Durham, New Hampshire, as well as Skyline, a year round menu of activities designed to keep clients active and engaged with their peers and our community. PATH provides financial assistance to campers and clients to remove obstacles to participation for families whose budgets may already be stretched by the costs for child/adult care, transportation, therapies, medications, and devices. I believe that people, regardless of their needs and strengths, have a right to engaging and appropriate recreation. Recreation provides us with growth, connection, adventure, and FUN. My path to recreation is as simple as lacing up my sneakers and hitting the roads. I run for PATH to pave the way for continued access to recreation for people with special needs and wondrous abilities. Fun is not just for some. Fun is for everyone.
How many Boston Marathons have you run? One (2018)
Fun fact about your running: I listen to music or murder podcasts while I train. Music makes me dance at the stoplights. Murder podcasts tend to make me run faster.
Runner: Michelle Barbin
Charity & fundraising page: Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge
Why you’re running for this cause: This is my second time with the Dana-Farber team and I applied when my mom was being treated by Dana-Farber for brain cancer in 2021. Being on the team for the 2022 marathon gave me a focus of something I could do that was positive during some really hard times. We had lost my father-in-law to throat cancer in 2019 and I wanted to help fund vital research. My mom passed away not even a year from her diagnosis so I’m running again to fund even more research. The Claudia Adams Barr program receives the funds and that program has made advancements in brain cancer treatments.
How many Boston Marathons have you run? This will be my third. My first was the fall 2021 marathon for Natick Service Council
Fun fact about your running: I always feel like garbage the first two miles, but then I get warmed up and into a groove enjoying music or chatting with friends. I always wonder if people who say they hate running stay with it past those first few miles because they might be missing out if they stop too soon.
Runner: Tara Bharadwaj
Charity & fundraising page: Family Promise Metrowest
Why you’re running for this cause: To afford an apartment in Natick- it requires working weekly 120 hours at a minimum wage job. This is simply unrealistic (time-wise). I value Family Promise Metrowest’s commitment to support nuclear families with at least one child under 18. This program has 100% success rate and gives parents the tools and resources to be permanently stable.
How many Boston Marathons have you run? 1 in 2022. This will be my 2nd. I also ran for this same organization, Family Promise Metrowest, last year.
Fun fact about your running: I ran Natick Girls XC from 2013-2017. I was a Junior Coach at Strivers Running Club for Girls throughout high school. I have completed 5 official half marathons – more unofficially.
Runner: Lexi Fahey
Charity & fundraising page: Natick Education Foundation
Why you’re running for this cause: I am a Natick Teacher
How many Boston Marathons have you run? 1
Runner: Courtney Harris
Charity & fundraising page: Kids Connect
Why you’re running for this cause: I moved to Natick in 2021 and witnessed two marathons in the town within 6 months (Oct 2021 and April 2022) and felt the magic of it. Having been a runner most of my life, I knew I wanted to run it for a town charity. I am running the 2023 Boston Marathon to support local Natick charity Kids Connect. I would be so grateful if you would support my fundraising. Kids Connect is a non-profit tutoring project supporting students in Natick. Services are provided on a sliding scale basis and are available in a range of subjects for kids in grades 1 through 12. Since it was founded in 1999, the program has supported thousands of schoolchildren in Natick and aims to turn no student away. I’m proud to be running this year to support Kids Connect and Natick, my hometown!
How many Boston Marathons have you run? 0! This is my first one.
Fun fact about your running: I’m going to end up having done my training in 5 different countries over the course of the build up to this marathon!
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