Foxborough Resident Running First Boston Marathon for Patriots Marathon Team

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Foxborough resident Andrew Lehrer has been a volunteer at the Boston Marathon’s finish line for five years, often preparing and handing out bags of food to runners. This year, when Lehrer arrives on Boylston Street for the 119th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20th, he will be collecting a bag of food from a volunteer, as he runs in his first marathon.

“Between volunteering at the marathon for so many years and seeing the city’s amazing response to the bombings in 2013, I realized that the marathon has very special meaning to me,” Lehrer said. “Every year when I volunteered, runners would tell me that the Boston Marathon is the best race in the world. That motivated and inspired me to try and run the race myself.”

Lehrer, an employee at the Kraft Group, is running with the Patriots Marathon Team, which has raised $206,521 and counting to support volunteer organizations in honor of the late Myra Kraft. The team is comprised of 30 runners, including seven staff members, lifelong Patriots fans, first-time marathoners and avid runners.

“Being born and raised in Rhode Island, I have always been a Patriots fan,” said Lehrer, who moved to Foxborough in 2012. “I started working for the organization in 2012 and have seen the great work that the Patriots Charitable Foundation does in communities throughout New England. This is a way for me to get more involved with the Foundation and help raise money for a great cause.”

This year’s Patriots Boston Marathon Team set an ambitious goal of raising $200,000 and has already eclipsed that mark in advance of Patriots Day. Since its inception eight years ago, the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation’s Boston Marathon teams have raised more than one million dollars to support children and families throughout the region. For the fifth consecutive year, the funds raised will support the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards program, which awards grants to nonprofit organizations through nominations of deserving volunteers in the New England region in honor of the late Myra Kraft, who was a lifelong volunteer and community advocate.

“Last year, I learned firsthand what it’s like to train for a marathon, and it was one of the most challenging experiences of my life,” said Patriots Charitable Foundation President Josh Kraft. “To say that this year’s winter was brutal would be an understatement. This year’s team has shown tremendous commitment to their training, and they have gone above and beyond to raise funds for our foundation. These awards are very near and dear to my family’s heart and we cannot thank our runners enough for their dedication. We look forward to seeing them all cross the finish line on Patriots Day.”

This year’s Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards will recognize 26 volunteers from across the New England region for their outstanding commitment to community service. They will be invited to a special luncheon at Gillette Stadium on June 9 and will receive their awards from Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. Each of the nonprofits for which the winners volunteer will receive a grant to support their programs. Last year’s recipients featured individuals from every New England state, ages 13 to 93, serving nonprofit organizations specializing in education, healthcare, homelessness, mentoring and military appreciation, just to name a few.

“The volunteers that win these grants dedicate so much of their lives to their causes, with little to no recognition,” Lehrer said. “In addition to financially supporting the causes of these volunteers, the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards help put a spotlight on these people and inspire others to volunteer as well.”

To support Lehrer’s fundraising efforts, visit http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/AndrewLehrer/undefined/fundraiser/AndrewLehrer/bostonmarathon2015.

More than 100 runners applied to be a part of this year’s Patriots Boston Marathon Team. When applying to the team, runners submitted information about their desire to run for the team, which included stories of being lifelong Patriots fans, triumph over personal difficulties and a desire to lead healthy lives. Fans can continue to make donations through race day in support of the team’s cause by visiting www.firstgiving.com/PatriotsCharitableFoundation/bostonmarathon2015.

For more information about the Patriots Marathon Team or the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards program, please visit www.patriots.com/community.

New England Patriots Charitable Foundation Boston Marathon Team Members

· Allie Ayres – Hingham, Mass.*

· Jackie Beatrice – Norfolk, Mass.*

· Ryan Boughan – Boston, Mass.

· Rich DeCapua – Maynard, Mass.

· Brian Donahue – Macungie, Pa.

· Kelly Donahue – Stoughton, Mass.*

· William Donovan – Middletown, Conn.

· Nicole Fiset – Plaistow, N.H.

· Maggie Hanrahan - Mashpee, Mass.

· Kim Healey – Hingham, Mass.*

· Katie Horan – Hanover, Mass.

· Samantha Hughes – Charlestown, Mass.

· Andrew Lehrer – Foxborough, Mass.*

· Anne McCarthy – Daytona Beach, Fla.

· Megan McCarthy – Beverly, Mass.

· Colin McRavey – Foster City, Calif.

· Nicholas Morris – Madison, Wis.

· Punit Pate – South Easton, Mass.

· Talene Pomfret – Newton, Mass.

· Matt Porro – Bridgewater, Mass.

· Brett Sawin – Waltham, Mass.*

*Kraft organization staff member

Please note some of runners wished to remain anonymous.

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