Press Release - Boston Marathon - 2/29/24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                Series: Cities & Towns of the Boston Marathon
                                  HOPKINTON                  

For our penultimate city and town segment we head back to the start line in 
Hopkinton to hear from one of our charity partners and their long-serving 
volunteer; then stop in Natick where they are preparing for a big pre-race 
clean-up. 

In 1997 founders Sharon Lisnow and Mary McQueeney opened the Michael Lisnow 
Respite Center in the town of Hopkinton. Sharon's son Michael was born 16 
weeks premature and weighed one pound; his premature birth caused him to 
have cerebral palsy and left him blind. Michael lived for ten years and 
died one year shy of the Center's opening. He is the enduring inspiration 
for the center. 

The center is part of this year's Bank of America Boston Marathon Official 
Charity Program, and has been part of the program for the last 26 years. 

Sharon explains, "The Boston Marathon has impacted us in so many ways. When 
we ended up in Hopkinton, we immediately understood how important the 
marathon was to the town and how much the B.A.A. supports programs here.   

"Over the years we have had 1,566 runners raise enough support to allow us 
to provide 183,330 hours of free care for children and adults with 
developmental and medical disabilities.  We would not be what we are today 
without the Boston Marathon and the town of Hopkinton." 

Further connecting the B.A.A. and the center is Peter Shea. Peter 
participates in their community-based day program and lives in a home in 
Hopkinton, with three housemates, that is supported by the Respite Center.  
He is also a loyal and long-time friend of the B.A.A. providing his time 
and skills for the last 20 years. 

Peter shares, "I always wanted to volunteer with the B.A.A. The Respite 
Center helped introduce me and here we are! 

"My favorite parts of volunteering have been sorting the mail, opening and 
sorting the race applications, helping with shredding and anything else the 
office needs.  But the best thing is celebrating my birthday with them.  

"Last year I got to stuff the bib numbers for the runner's bags at the 
Expo.  I check the names and the addresses, and we get to talk to everyone, 
and everyone talks to us.  It's a really fun day! 

"Every year I get a new jacket.  I have A LOT of jackets! My favorite color 
so far is the yellow one.  They even put my name on the back.  It makes me 
look really cool." 

Sharon gives her thoughts on Peter, "Peter has been a part of the Respite 
family for twenty-five years.  He is an amazing man with many talents.  He 
has a great sense of humor, is incredibly generous and loves to compete.  
The challenges of Down Syndrome have not slowed him from reaching for 
dreams.  His ultimate dream was to become a volunteer for the Boston 
Marathon. His absolute favorite thing in the world is spending time with 
his friends at the B.A.A. and helping with anything he can." 

Learn more about the Michael Lisnow Respite Center  

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