Acura of Auburn Sponsors Two Runners in 2016 Boston Marathon

Auburn, MA– On April 18, the 120th Boston Marathon will kick off with more than 30,000 participants running the 26.2-mile route through Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley, Natick, Brookline, Newton, and Boston. On behalf of the New England Acura Dealers, the official automotive sponsors of the 2016 Boston Marathon, Acura of Auburn provided two invitational entries to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Ken Bowen, general manager of Acura of Auburn, recalls getting these entries, “I knew I had the golden ticket into the running race of the year and could think of no better place to donate these entries to than Dana Farber.”

Lisa Richmond, 21, will be running her first Boston Marathon.

Dana Farber has provided these spots to local runners and supporters, Lisa Richmond, 21, and Michael Vangelist, 48. “It was a very generous gesture to receive two race entries. It’s a privilege to have this special opportunity,” said, Jan Ross, Assistant Vice President, Running Programs, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Lisa is a first time Boston Marathon participant but not new to the power of Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s doctors, nurses and research. Lisa grew up cheering on her aunt Elizabeth, who ran the first of her eleven Boston Marathons for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in 2001 and in honor of her sister Theresa and sister-in-law Nancy, both of whom had just been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000.

“Watching [Elizabeth] run each year as I grew up instilled in me the value of hard work and showed me how much being committed to an organization like Dana Farber can truly change lives,” Lisa said.

In 2007, Theresa, a stage-four breast cancer patient at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, joined Elizabeth and ran in the Boston Marathon as part of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge.

“Their teamwork inspired me so much,” said Lisa. “Theresa ran as living proof of the advances in treatment made possible by the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge … [Theresa’s] treatment was developed out of the Claudia Adams Barr program for innovative cancer research, where DFMC directs 100% of its funds.”

Throughout 2008 and 2009, Theresa’s health deteriorated as a result of stage-four breast and liver cancer, however she was determined to be a part of the Dana Farber team and cross this finish line. Given her very challenging physical condition, Theresa fought from Hopkinton to Wellesley to Heart Break Hill and ultimately crossed the finish line of what would become her final marathon.

“Witnessing these incredible feats and demonstrations of true courage has left a mark on my heart that words cannot begin to describe. I feel deeply connected to this race and Dana Farber. It is an honor to be running the Boston Marathon as a member of the DFMC team, in memory of Theresa and in honor of [Elizabeth] and Nancy, a survivor of breast cancer.”

By running this year’s marathon, Lisa hopes to continue the legacy of her aunts and take part in the fight against cancer. “For me, the aim of running a marathon is not to revel in the excitement at the start or finish lines, but rather to journey through the highs and lows of each mile with all the incredible people around me,” she said. “There is always so much love in the air on marathon day but love is more than an emotional high; it is the undertaking of putting that love into action and affecting positive change, like though running and fundraising. This love fosters a world where, with each mile, we are all one-step closer to the finish line, a cure for cancer.”

Mike Vangelist, 48, a veteran of the DFMC team, will be running his sixth consecutive Boston Marathon.

Mike Vangelist, 48, a veteran of the DFMC team, will be running his sixth consecutive Boston Marathon. Mike says that his life has been affected by cancer in many ways. In October 2009, Mike underwent major, life-saving surgery after being diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a cancer of cartilage cells that is the second most common primary bone cancer. Fortunately with all the great Boston hospitals right in his backyard he was linked Francis Hornicek M.D., Ph.D., who was able to remove the bone that contained the sarcoma and also save Mike from losing his right arm.

“During the time of this diagnosis, I promised myself that if I survived I would get involved in some way to battle this horrible malady,” Mike said.

In addition to his own experience, he will be running in memory of his sister Debbie Vangelist who passed away at the age of ten. While she battled bravely, she passed away one month before Mike was born. “I grew up in a home that felt the deep sadness of losing a loved one to this dreaded disease. As a child, I remember always thinking there must be a way to defeat cancer in some way,” Mike said. “And now I feel I have found an effective way of fighting this enemy.”

Mike’s two friends, Katerina Ferraro and Erica Berkenbush Kinney, who have gone through treatment at Dana Farber and their care, battle and success have inspired him to lace up his sneakers.

“I hope my run leads to breakthroughs so that present and future generations will never experience the heartache of pain and loss that cancer can cause. I hope my run raises awareness of the battle that can defeat cancer through research,” he said.

NEADA and Acura of Auburn encourage you to come out on Marathon Monday and cheer on Lisa and Mike. If you can’t make it to the race, please feel free to donate to Lisa Richmond or Michael Vangelist by searching for their names here.

As the official automotive sponsor, the NEADA will provide the official pace cars leading the race, including a 2017 NSX and other Acuras to showcase along the course. To kick-off the partnership, the NEADA hosted a Live Art Show at the 2016 New England International Auto Show with Rather Severe creating a unique mural on a brand-new 2016 MDX under the “We Are Boston” campaign..

About the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.):
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.’s Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs, including high performance athletes and running club. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. More than 60,000 runners will participate in B.A.A. events in 2015. The 120th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 18, 2016. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.

About the Dana Farber Cancer Institute:
Since its founding in 1947, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts has been committed to providing adults and children with cancer with the best treatment available today while developing tomorrow’s cures through cutting-edge research.