Joanna Murphy Laces Up to Run the Boston Marathon®

In 2015, Roslindale's Joanna Murphy, 34, laced up her sneakers to run the Boston Marathon for the first time as part of the YMCA's Greater Boston team. She will be joining the team again this year to cross the finish line once more while wearing the YMCA's bib.

"The first 26 miles will certainly have their ups and down, both literally and figuratively, but the months of training and anticipation will all really come to an end in that final stretch," said Murphy, a Needham math teacher. "I look at my fundraising for the Y very similarly to the way I look at my training. When you look at the end goal, it can be intimidating and seem nearly impossible, but you start out slow and gradually work your way towards the finish line."

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.

"The funds raised through the Y's Boston Marathon Team are crucial in helping to meet the growing demands of our teen population," Says James O'S. Morton, President and CEO 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 in providing safe spaces, structured activities and caring adults who inspire and mentor our teens."

The YMCA of Greater Boston is pleased to be a beneficiary of the John Hancock Non-Profit Marathon Program. John Hancock donates hundreds of guaranteed entries into the Boston Marathon each year to select non-profit organizations through their Marathon Non-Profit Program. Organizations use these entries to recruit individual runners who pledge to raise money for their cause.

Murphy has been a longtime member of the Charles River YMCA where she grew up participating in after school programs, swim team, and summer camp programs. Although those days have changed, Murphy still spends her days working as a middle school math teacher at her alma mater, the Needham Public Schools, spending her afternoons working out at the Y and volunteering as a board member. "As a former Y teen member and a current middle school teacher, I truly understand what the Y can do for kids at such an impressionable age," she said.

"I often joke that I grew up at the Y. Between after school programming and swim team, there were days that I felt like I never left. Not much has changed as an adult," said Murphy. "It feels like a natural fit to be running again for the Y and raising money for the quality programming the YMCA provides."

Runners who have qualified to receive a Boston Marathon bib and would like to experience the camaraderie of running with a team while supporting charity are welcome to join the YMCA of Greater Boston's Marathon team by raising a minimum of $1,500. For more information about YMCA's marathon runners visit http://ymcaboston.org/Marathon.