From Joanne O’Connell
Please Support Runners for the Timothy O’Connell Foundation and the Dana Farber Institute in the “Virtual” 2020 Boston Marathon!
Everyone knows that almost everything changed in the middle of March 2020. Basically all of the events that we were looking forward to were postponed. And, now, many have been canceled or made “virtual”. The 2020 Boston Marathon is now a “virtual” event.
This year Max Athy and Joanne O’Connell were registered to run the Boston Marathon in April for The Timothy O’Connell Foundation, in honor and in memory of Tim O’Connell. Nate McMahan was running the Marathon as a member of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team, in honor of his 6 year old daughter Caroline, who won her battle with cancer last year. By late March, the Boston Athletic Association had postponed the Boston Marathon to September 14. And, by June, the 2020 running of the historic Boston Marathon was made a “virtual” event. In this case, this is what “virtual” means: runners must run the full 26.2 miles in a location of their choice in one run between September 7 and September 14.
With these guidelines in mind, the date and place to run were obvious to Max, Joanne and Nate. They will run their version of the 2020 Boston Marathon September 7, on the Rail Trail in Holliston. September 7th is Tim’s Birthday and this year, the 7th is Labor Day Monday, just as it was on the day Timmy was born in 1998. And, although Tim was born in New York City, Holliston was his true home. For Nate September 7th is also very meaningful. On September 7, 2018 Caroline was diagnosed with a stage four Wilm’s tumor. Nate and his family live just off the Rail Trail and regularly during her treatment they would get Caroline out for walks or stroller rides on the Trail. Running on Tim’s Birthday and Caroline’s diagnosis date will bring endless inspiration to the runners, something greatly needed to get through a run of 26.2 miles!
Because all of the other fundraising events for the Timothy O’Connell Foundation for 2020 have been postponed, the fundraising of Max and Joanne is more important than ever to the Foundation. You can support the runners and all the good works of the Timothy O’Connell Foundation at www.timsteam.org. Go to the EVENTS tab and click on the Boston Marathon. You will be able to support Joanne and/or Max. All dollars donated make a difference. The Foundation gives away all money raised to cancer-related causes.
The Timothy O’Connell Foundation has now raised over $1 million dollars in the last 12 years. The Foundation supports programs for children and families in treatment for pediatric cancer, bereavement programs, research programs, and scholarships for Holliston residents who are studying medically related majors in college. To date, Tim’s Foundation has made financial gifts to Make-A-Wish, the Just for Sibs Program at Children’s Hospital, Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine, the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and the research lab named for Tim at the University of Minnesota, as well as other organizations, and scholarships given to Holliston residents.
Nate, with the help of his wife Katie, has raised over $13,100 this year for his run. That earned him the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge 13.1K “Pace Setter” badge. The Dana Farber Marathon Challenge goes to support cancer research at the Dana Farber. If you would like to contribute or learn more about Caroline’s journey, visit Nate’s participant page at http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/NateRuns2020
In addition to supporting Max, Joanne, and Nate with donations to their runs, please come out to the Rail Trail on September 7 to run or walk! Max, Joanne, and Nate will begin running at 7 am. They will start at the gazebo in Blair Square. They will run out toward Milford and back 4 times to complete the 26.2 Marathon. They hope that people will walk and run the Trail – even run with them – in Tim’s Trot shirts. They hope to make this a fun run for everyone! They hope to finish up by noon or a little later. REMINDER: On the Rail Trail please wear your masks and practice safe social distancing.
Update on Timmy Cakes 2020: Due to COVID 19 restrictions where Joanne and her baking team make the cakes, Timmy Cakes have been postponed until Winter or Spring of 2021. The Timothy O’Connell Foundation promises to keep this publication updated. We all know how anticipated and loved Timmy Cakes are!
Update on Tim’s Trot 2020: Due to COVID 19 restrictions on the number of people who can safely gather, the 10th Annual Tim’s Trot has been postponed. The Timothy O’Connell Foundation hopes to have Tim’s Trot in 2021. The Timothy O’Connell Foundation promises to keep this publication updated. The Foundation wishes to thank 2020 virtual Boston Marathoner Max Athy for his creation of Tim’s Trot! Over the last 9 years, Tim’s Trot has raised $150,000 for Tim’s Foundation. That is a very successful Holliston High School National Honor Society Service Project!
