Above: Two Southborough residents have the same inspiration for using the 2024 Boston Marathon to raise funds for Boston Children’s Hospital (images cropped from fundraising pages)
[The Boston Marathon always includes a pack of runners from our town. Between now and Patriots Day, I’m featuring stories of resident runners donning bibs for a cause]
Two Southborough women are preparing to run as part of Boston Children’s Hospital’s Miles for Miracles team. The sisters are related to a two year old “miracle” whose life they credit to the surgery and care that he received from the doctors and nurses at Children’s.
Emily Dahlstrom’s and Sarah Teebagy’s fundraising pages each share that they are “All in for Owen”.
Teebagy writes:
I’m so excited to share that I’ll be running the 2024 Boston Marathon as part of the Miles for Miracles Team, to help raise money for all the brave kids and families at Boston Children’s Hospital.
This hospital really does make miracles happen, and I’m reminded of that every time I see my little nephew, Owen. Owen is my godson, my greatest source of inspiration, and the reason I am running.
The fundraising pages detail a devastating diagnosis that their cousins, Owen’s parents, received at the 20 week ultrasound appointment. At Children’s he was able to receive “life saving surgery” and “amazing round the clock care”.
Dahlstrom writes:
After 116 days of ups and downs, Owen was strong enough to be discharged home.
Flash forward a year and a half. Owen has a smile like you’ve never seen. He giggles nonstop, loves to run, eats like the true Italian that he is and gives the best cuddles. He is the most charismatic toddler I have ever met.
The sisters are running with Owen’s father Landon “for the hospital that gave him his chance”. But each of them explains why supporting their run is about more than just their family:
Every dollar I raise funds the very best medical care, breakthrough research and vital support services for sick kids and their families. Your gift will:
- help children from your town and across the world get a second chance at life;
- give kids battling the most complex diseases care they can’t find anywhere else;
- fuel 3,000+ researchers working to develop new treatments and cures;
support patient programs, like music and art therapy, to let kids be kids, even during long hospital stays;- help patient families in crisis with urgent needs, such as food, clothing and housing;
- deliver the most compassionate, leading-edge care to every child who needs it.
To support the fundraiser, click the following links for Emily Dahlstrom and Sarah Teebagy.
[Note: If you are a Southborough resident using the Marathon to raise funds/awareness for a cause, please reach out with your information. Email mysouthborough@gmail.com.]
