Melrose Firefighter Runs Marathon to Fundraise for Hole in the Wall Gang Camps

Fifteen years ago, Melrose firefighter and North Reading resident Scott Alley had just left the National Guard and was in prime shape to run the Boston Marathon. This time he expects it to be a little tougher, but he has a good cause helping push him across the finish line.

This year Alley will take part yet again in one of the world’s most prestigious marathons to help raise money for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps, a charity started in 1988 by Paul Newman to provide activities for children with serious illnesses.

The camp allowed Alley’s son Liam, who has a moderate case of hemophilia, enjoy being a child in an environment that wouldn’t cause further health problems.

“You can send your child there with any of these illnesses and have full confidence that they’ll have fun, they’ll be challenged and they’ll do whatever they want to do if they have the strength and motivation to do it,” Alley said.  “It’s just an incredibly uplifting and positive place.”

Alley hopes to raise $4,000 for the camp through his participation in the race, although he says the recession has made that task almost as difficult as training for the race itself.

“The economic times and the way they have been for a long time have made it hard to ask (for money),” Alley said. “This is the first time I’ve ever done a fundraiser. I had no idea how difficult it was to ask people for money. I think it’s safe to say that everyone’s been asking for money at some point in their lives, and it’s difficult to ask for it, it’s a humbling experience.”

He’s on pace to meet that goal, and now his main focus is trying to duplicate the four and a half hour time he set for himself during his first marathon, something he expects his colleagues from the to help him with as they cheer from the course on Patriots' Day, something he says he’ll need now that he’s running this race without the power of youth on his side.

“I’m 42 now, so I’m quite a bit older. The metabolism and the genetics of just being 15 years older are far more challenging,” Alley said. “This is going to be much more of a head race than last time, much more mental.”

Those looking to donate to Alley’s fundraising efforts online can see his page here, and thanks in part to technology in each of the runner’s bibs, Alley’s progress during the race can be tracked online at the Boston Marathon’s website, baa.org.