YMCA Employee Set to Run as Part of YMCA's Boston Marathon Team

As an employee of the YMCA of Greater Boston, Kara Irwin, 29, lives and breathes the mission of the Y. By day she serves as the Y’s marketing manager, where she carefully executes and creates campaigns around the Y’s programming, working to reach the diverse communities and neighborhoods the Y serves.

By night, you can find Irwin on the treadmill at the Huntington Ave YMCA, tuned into the breaking news on her headphones while cranking out miles and running intervals to prepare for her first run in the Boston Marathon. Irwin will be running and raising money as a part of the YMCA of Greater Boston’s Marathon Team.

Irwin has been training for the Marathon since December, with the help of Healthy Living Specialist for the YMCA, Tim Botto who has been coaching each team member and providing them with an individualized training program with bi-weekly check-ins to help each team member stay on track.

“Stretching is still a little outside of my comfort zone, but is very important at this level of competition,” says Irwin, who in addition to running also been doing a lot of biking and Pilates for cross training to work different muscles.

All funds raised by Y Marathon team members will support the YMCA of Greater Boston’s teen programs. This past summer the YMCA of Greater Boston gave out 15,000 free three-month memberships to teens at the Y’s 13 branches with unlimited access and held more than 900 community events. Programs like Safe Dating, Cyber Bulling, Job Readiness, Volunteerism, Leadership, SAT prep and mentoring programs empower and engage youth in productive ways.

Currently, Irwin has raised $5,200 of her $8,000 goal. Her fundraising was jumpstarted by a $2,500 donation from Irwin Automotive Group in New Hampshire. The business, which was started by her late grandfather, was donated in his memory.

“The money from my family’s business really brings everything full circle,” says Irwin. “It was a little intimidating to ask for money at first, but I really believe in the mission of the Y and the critical programming the organization provides to the community.”

“The funds raised through our Boston Marathon team are crucial in helping to meet the growing demands of our teen population,” says James O’S. Morton, CEO and President of the YMCA of Greater Boston. “This past summer was our busiest to date with each of our branches creating programming to fit the needs of the youth in their neighborhoods. YMCA of Greater Boston’s teen programming is an invaluable resource for the youth of our city, keeping them off the streets, out of trouble, and engaged in productive and educational activities.”

Runners who have qualified to receive a Boston Marathon bib and would like to experience the comradery of running with a team while supporting charity are welcome to join the YMCA of Greater Boston’s Marathon team. Runners must raise a minimum of $1,500. For more information on how you can join the team or how to support the runners, email ymarathonteam@ymcaboston.org to learn more about YMCA’s marathon runners visit, ymcaboston.org/boston-marathon-team. #RunYMCA

For more information Irwin, or to donate to her upcoming run in the Boston Marathon, visit www.crowdrise.com/ymcaboston2016/fundraiser/karairwin.

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