Weymouth Community Comes Together to Raise Over $6K For Marathon Victim

When students and faculty at one Weymouth elementary school learned that their bus driver’s daughter was injured in the Boston Marathon explosions, they decided to help.

The William Seach Primary School community collected more than $6,500 and will host the Help-A-Thon on  Wednesday morning to benefit Mery Daniel, daughter of their bus driver Harry Volmar.

As a fundraiser, the Seach community will be walking a mile at 10 a.m., and then the top donor from each class will present Volmar with a check around 10:30 a.m.

Daniel, who is a 31-year-old mother living in Brockton, was wounded and lost her leg at the finish line of the marathon. Her other leg was badly injured and over the last month she has struggled with surgeries to keep it.

Daniel will take a break from rehab Wednesday to attend the Walk and watch the Weymouth community rally around her.

“We are honored that she will be released from rehab to attend," Betsy Harris, Weymouth Public School Community Relations Liaison, wrote in an email.

Liz Murray, a literacy coach at Seach and organizer of the event, said the school has collected donations from parents, businesses in town, police officers and even former students.

"We thought about a way all students could be involved, and we had all students ask for donations," Murray said.  "[On Wednesday] all students will be walking a mile for her."

A van driver in town who doesn't even know Volmar, has offered to walk and members of Fallon Ambulance, Boston Marathon runners, and first responders from the Marathon will also be present at the walk, Murray said.

Volmar and Daniel are very grateful that the school has decided to help.

"They are definitely very appreciative," Murray said after speaking with the father and daughter on the phone this week.

Before the Boston Marathon attack, Daniel was enrolled at medical school in Europe. Taking a break from studying for the medical boards to cheer on runners, she was wounded on Bolyston Street. Doctors were forced to amputate her left leg and twice massage her failing heart to keep her alive, according to Boston.com. Her other leg is still badly injured.

Funds are still being collected at Seach for Daniel. Anyone interested in donating or attending the Help-A-Thon walk and reception can contact Liz Murray at 781-335-7589 or elizabeth.murray@weymouthschools.org.

They can also donate to her foundation at http://merydaniel.com.