Two Farmington Valley Runners Chosen for Exclusive Boston Marathon Team

A pair of runners from the Farmington Valley will be among 66 runners representing the Martin Richard Foundation in the 2016 Boston Marathon as a member of Team MR8 on April 18, 2016. The team has set its fundraising goal at $500,000 with nearly $30,000 having already been raised.

Susan Fox of Farmington and Kimberly Russell of Granby were among the applicants chosen for the team.

Runners ranging from ages 21 to 67 will be running the Marathon in honor of eight-year-old Martin Richard, the youngest victim of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. The team is comprised of college students, business owners, seasoned marathoners and first time runners.

Team MR8 will also be represented by a duo team in the mobility impaired program of the marathon. Runner Matt Burdette will push his friend Kevin DiLegge from Hopkinton to Boston - a dream of Kevin’s for some time.

The Foundation has charity teams for the Boston and New York marathons as well as smaller races under the name “Team MR8,” which is derived from Martin’s initials and favorite sports number. The team’s purpose is to raise funds that will further support the Foundation’s mission to honor Martin’s message of “No more hurting people – peace” by investing in education, athletics and community.

Denise and Bill Richard have been overwhelmed each year by the number of applicants who want to join Team MR8.

“We are thrilled to announce the newest Team MR8 Boston Marathon runners and we are excited to watch everyone come together as a team,” said Denise Richard. “We are especially grateful to the BAA for allowing us to have a duo team in this year’s marathon. Our own Challenger Sports Program has brought so much joy during the past year – Matt and Kevin will be a great inspiration for both the players and their buddies.”

Following the application process, the following runners were selected as Teams MR8 members: Robert Begin of Swampscott, MA; Alison Berks of Natick, MA; Kelly Buckley of Boston, MA; Matthew Burdette of Churchville, MD; Patricia Burke of Hingham, MA; Mark Burns of Cambridge, MA; Courtney Campbell of Medford, MA; John Canuto of Weymouth, MA; Raymond Childs of Hingham, MA; Jeffrey Clough of Dorchester, MA; Katherine Connors of Dorchester, MA; Matthew Cox of Wells, ME; Maire Crowley of Concord, MA; Kevin DiLegge of Churchville, MD; Kevin Dixon of Plymouth, MA; Pat Doherty of Dorchester, MA; Elizabeth Eaton of Middleboro, MA; Jason Ebbeling of Colchester, CT; Susan Fox of Farmington, CT; Eric Gagnon of Dorchester, MA; John Gardella of Quincy, MA;Christine Goldman of Brookline, MA; Ralph Gordyan of Hudson, OH; Michael Gosselin of Boston, MA; Ed Harms of Somerville, MA;Mark Hughes of Duxbury, MA; Alexandra Kay of Westwood, MA; Brooke Kelly of Hope, RI; Jessica Kelly of Needham, MA; Jesse Kinel of Needham, MA; Dan Koh of Boston, MA; Mark Leigh of Phoenix, AZ; Nicole Lunt of Salem, MA; John Lutz of South Boston, MA; Danielle Lydon of Dorchester, MA; Anthony Masciello of Winston Salem, NC; Michael McCarthy of Dorchester, MA; Rachel McCloskey of Brookline, MA; Ed McGowan of East Bridgewater, MA; Jessica Melendy of Taunton, MA; Katelyn Melia of Dorchester, MA; Heather Monaco of Dorchester, MA; Ryan Moynihan of Delray Beach, FL; Kathleen Mullen of Dorchester, MA; Joseph Neidermeyer of Brookline, MA; Laura O’Brien of West Roxbury, MA; Kristin O’Sullivan of Mission Viejo, CA; Bryan Ody of Wakefield, MA; Maggie Osbahr of Nahant, MA; Chris Peterson of Cambridge, MA; Cara Polonsky of Aurora, CO; Christopher Rotelliof Gibsonia, PA; Kimberly Russell of Granby, CT; Patrick Ryan of Boston, MA; Amy Sennett of Boston, MA; Vicky Shen of South Boston, MA; Dylan Siska of Boynton Beach, FL; Rory Siska of Boynton Beach, FL; Elisabeth Talbot of Milton, MA; Eva Trapani of Dorchester, MA; Alison Wade of Wellesley, MA; Sarah Whowell of Lakeville, MA; Steve Wilkins of Dorchester, MA; Ryan Winters of Austin, TX; Michael Wojciechowski of Boston, MA; and Benjamin Zachary of Taylorsville, NC.

“Martin’s story has touched me in a very deep and personal way. With every step I run leading up to and on April 18, I will carry Martin’s vision for peace and his legacy with me across the finish line and beyond,” runner Kristin O’Sullivan said earlier.

Supporters are now able to purchase Team MR8 shirts and hats as well as donate to the Boston Marathon team by visiting the charity’s website at www.MartinRichardFoundation.org.