Three North End residents will run in this year’s Boston Marathon on April 15 as part of two Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) teams. Macey Petersen will run with MGH’s Pediatric Oncology Team, Fighting Kids’ Cancer … One Step at a Time, and Sarah Bresette and Samantha Burke will run on the Emergency Response Marathon Team, Ready When Seconds Count.
The Mass General Pediatric Cancer Marathon Team aims to raise more than $1,075,000 this year to support cancer research initiatives as well as quality of life programming such as art and music therapy; support groups; and child life specialists who help patients and their families cope with illness and treatment.
The Mass General Emergency Response Marathon Team hopes to collectively raise $430,000 to provide critical support for emergency care, disaster relief and disaster preparedness teaching and training at Mass General, efforts that benefit victims worldwide.
Since its founding in 1998, the Mass General Pediatric Oncology Team, in partnership with John Hancock, has raised more than $14.4 million to support research and activities for children with cancer. The emergency response team, which was guaranteed entries after the hospital’s response to the 2013 marathon bombings, has raised over $1.9 million for essential programs and services.
“Each of our runners has dedicated countless hours to their training and fundraising efforts,” says Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the Massachusetts General Hospital. “On behalf of the MGH community, I salute and thank these individuals who dedicate so much of themselves to support our efforts to improve the health of others.”
To learn more about the Mass General pediatric and emergency response teams, visit giving.massgeneral.org/boston-marathon.
