@26.2foundation

This week we learned of the sudden passing of marathon legend and global icon, Rick Hoyt.  It was difficult to hear the news as we had just seen Rick and his brother Russ speak to the students at the Marathon School in Hopkinton a few days prior. In true Hoyt fashion, their presentation was nothing short of inspirational.  As the students learned about Rick, they were captivated, and the chorus of Team Hoyt’s motto, ‘Yes You Can!’ became louder and louder each time Rick and Russ asked them to repeat it. It was a day that will not soon be forgotten by anyone in the room. As we reflect on Rick's remarkable life and legacy, we find ourselves grateful that we had the opportunity to work with @johnhancock as they created the Team Hoyt bronze sculpture honoring the famed father-and-son marathoning team.  To recognize their achievements and contributions to marathoning and inclusion, @johnhancock commissioned artist Mike Tabor to create the life-sized statue, titled ‘Yes You Can!’.  The 26.2 Foundation was pleased to secure the location of the statue, which sits yards from the Boston Marathon starting line. The sculpture was donated to the town of Hopkinton in 2013 and will forever serve as a symbol of determination, strength, courage, and love.  Thank you, Rick, for being an inspiration to all of us. You will forever be remembered, honored, and celebrated. Honor | Celebrate | Inspire 📷 John Cardillo

Earlier this week, we had the honor of beginning our @bostonmarathon celebrations at the 2023 Wreath Ceremony at the Greek Consulate in Boston. Since 1984, the Consulate General of Greece in Boston, through the leadership of Peter Argis, has presented the Boston Athletic Association with olive branch wreaths to crown the four first-place winners of the Boston Marathon. Each year these wreaths are grown, cut, and hand-crafted in Greece, transmitting Classical Greece’s tradition of crowning its victors with olive wreaths and brought to Boston, the “Athens of America”. This ceremony was borne from the collaboration of Greek Consul General Christos Panagopoulos, the Boston Athletic Association, Governor Michael S. Dukakis, Lt. Governor John Kerry, Boston Mayor Ray Flynn, former B.A.A. Race Director and President of the 26.2 Foundation, Tim Kilduff, and Peter Agris of the Alpha Omega Council. The gold olive wreaths were introduced in 2010 in conjunction with the 2,500 anniversary of the Battle of Marathon. The 26.2 Foundation is proud to be a part of this meaningful gift, and ceremony. We are grateful for the strong partnerships we’ve forged over the years with the Alpha Omega Council; the Consul General of Greece in Boston; and the Boston Athletic Association.  Thank you to special guest, Boston Marathon Champion Meb Keflezighi and to all those who attended. 📸 @aretiphoto

@bostonmarathon weekend is here, and today we want to celebrate TEAM INSPIRE! We appreciate our runners' involvement, support, diversity, and achievements. Their stories and reasons for running touch us deeply, and we are grateful they chose to run for the 26.2 Foundation. Remember Team Inspire, Marathon Day is not a test of your training, it's a CELEBRATION. Go get it! Honor | Celebrate | Inspire

The Boston Marathon is fast approaching, and we’ve got something special for you! Get your tickets today for The StART Line Experience, an art & education, self-guided tour. DATES: April 14, 15 & 16 YOUR TICKET INCLUDES: • Video about the Boston Marathon start and sculpture history • Tour of the Break Away Exhibition featuring sculptures and paintings by Bobbi Gibb & photography by Chelsea Bradway • $25 gift certificate to Start Line Brewery in Hopkinton • Self-guided tour of sculptures honoring marathon legends Bobbi Gibb, George V. Brown, Dick & Rick Hoyt, and Stylianos Kyriakides Special VIP tickets: April 16 at 3 p.m. for a meet and greet with Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon We are so excited to partner with our friends @hopartscenter , @startlinebrewing , @visitmetrowest , and the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism on this unique Marathon Weekend experience. FUNDED BY: The MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau and the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism FUNDRAISER FOR: 26.2 Foundation and Hopkinton Center for the Arts TICKETS: Link in bio

We are thrilled to share that this year's @startlinebrewing Marathoner IPA honors our good friends @teamhoytofficial and Team Hoyt! The Hoyt Foundation is a non-profit organization that was formed in 1989 and aspires to build the individual character, self-confidence and self-esteem of America’s disabled young people through inclusion in all facets of daily life. If you don't already know the Hoyt Family, take a moment to visit their website and follow them on social. You are most certainly going to be inspired. Marathoner IPA is available exclusively at Start Line Brewing in the taproom. Proceeds of the annual Marathoner IPA go to the 26.2 Foundation and bringing the vision of the International Marathon Center to life, thank you Start Line for your continued, and generous, support. Thank you also for recognizing awesome organizations – and people - like the Hoyt Foundation and reminding us all that “Yes you can!”. Honor | Celebrate | Inspire

Congratulations to @blackmarathoners on @breakingthreehours , the first, award-winning documentary about US-Born, African American Women Marathoners, who are National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame Inductees! Since 1975, over 14 million people have completed marathons in the US. About 280,000 finished in under three hours. Fewer than twenty of these sub-three-hour runners were US-born, African American women. Breaking Three Hours is a 2022 feature length documentary about nine of these women, who are National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame inductees. The documentary, music video, and two related shorts received eleven awards at fourteen film festivals and can be seen on Prime Video.  We are proud to have sponsored this inspiring project along with the Boston Athletic Association, the New York Road Runner Club, the Road Runners Club of America, and the Caribbean Endurance Sports Corporation (the Five-Island Challenge Series). To learn more about Breaking Three Hours: Trailblazing African American Women Marathoners visit www.BreakingThreeHours.com. [Link in Bio] Honor | Celebrate | Inspire

📣 Just launched! The new 26.2 Foundation website! 📣 Come visit our new website, featuring many new upgrades. The site now details our progress on the International Marathon Center, is home to Team Inspire, provides the latest news about our work in education and international and community relations, and is easier to navigate and use -- all enhanced by extensive new graphics. Take a look: www.26-2.org Honor | Celebrate | Inspire

Jack Fleming (left) pictured here with the Mayor of Athens, Greece,  Kostas Bakoyannis has been appointed President and CEO of the Boston Athletic Association according to Dr. Michael O'Leary, Chair of the B.A.A. Board of Governors. "We applaud the decision and wish Jack much success" said Tim Kilduff, President of the 26.2 Foundation. "The right person at the right time", he added. Honor | Celebrate | Inspire

Join the 26.2 Foundation’s Team Inspire and run the 127th Boston Marathon on April 17, 2023. The fundraising effort of Team Inspire will help establish the International Marathon Center, a unique institution designed to feature and highlight the global nature of marathoning, while recognizing runners past and present. The IMC will also focus sharply on fitness and health, as well as community engagement through rich cultural and educational programs. It is being designed as a place to honor, celebrate, and inspire. As a Member of our Team you will receive: 🏃‍♂️ Training support that includes weekly mileage recommendations 👟 Weekly group runs (local to Boston) 💲 Fundraising support 💻 A customizable fundraising platform 🎽 Team Inspire singlet 🏃‍♀️ A community of like-minded people to support and encourage you! Apply today! Link in bio.

This Second Annual Hopkinton Restaurant Week starts today! Visit Hopkinton and explore new restaurants, take advantage of delicious meals, specials and prizes at participating eateries, and support small businesses in our community. For all the details visit: https://www.hopchamber.com/hopkintonrestaurantweek

Today's the day! Good luck to all of the athletes participating in the @bostonmarathon ! We will be cheering you on from Hopkinton to Boston! #BostonMarathon #HopkintontoBoston #YouveGotThis #LetsGo #NothingIsImpossible #Honor #Celebrate #Inspire

Runners from seven countries make up the 26.2 Foundation’s Team Inspire this year at the 126th running of the Boston Marathon®. Thailand, Indonesia, Canada, France, the UK, Bosnia and, of course, the U.S. will be represented, with Americans hailing from nine different states. Every one of them has a compelling story about how they got here and what running means to them. We are honored to have them run on Team Inspire. Be sure to look for them along the course and shout out your cheers and encouragement. To our Team Inspire, Monday is not a test of your training, it's a celebration! Good luck, take it all it in, and enjoy every moment. #BostonMarathon #HopkintontoBoston #Honor #Celebrate #Inspire