Northport's Jorge Jimenez to Run Boston Marathon® on YMCA Team

This April, Jorge Jimenez, 48, of Northport, will run the Boston Marathon® as part of the YMCA of Greater Boston’s team. He’s excited to fundraise and run for an organization that means so much to him.

Although this is Jimenez’s first Boston Marathon, he has run 26.2 miles before – a goal he says he built up to gradually, almost accidentally, over time. A strong long-distance runner since childhood, Jorge stuck with the sport until he found himself conquering longer distances. In the fall of 2015, he ran the NYC marathon and returned the following year to beat his personal record.

The YMCA is a charity close to Jimenez’s heart. He has donated time and financial contributions for years and serves on the board of the YMCA of Long Island. “I do everything I can to help the Y raise money, because I know that the surplus funds will be returned to the community in the form of scholarships for summer camp, day-care, swimming lessons, teen centers, and more,” says Jimenez. “These scholarships go to the families that need it the most. The Y made a big difference in my life as kid by giving me a safe and fun place to play. I’m trying to pay that back any way that I can.”

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 17,000 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.

“When you run for the Y’s Boston Marathon team, you are raising money to help us give a teen in Greater Boston access to summer programming, swim classes, and camp,” says James Morton, YMCA of Greater Boston President and CEO. “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, which would not be possible without funds raised by our runners. We wish them the best this April.”

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. To donate to Jorge Jimenez and the rest of the YMCA team, please visit: https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/ymca-boston-2019.

ABOUT THE YMCA OF GREATER BOSTON:

The YMCA of Greater Boston is the state’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities. Every day the Y works with thousands of men, women and children to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. As the nation’s fifth largest charity, the Y is creating meaningful memberships. Going beyond gym and swim, the Y provides members with access to quality health and fitness experts and equipment while giving back and providing support to thousands every day. For more than 165 years, the Y has been developing skills and emotional well-being through education and training, welcoming and connecting diverse populations, preventing chronic disease and building healthier communities through collaborations and policymakers. The Boston YMCA is the first Y in the United States