It was the 127th running of the Boston Marathon (April 17, 2023).

My son Andrew, a really good runner, was in Boston to watch the race. I enjoyed it on television.

I wondered what happened to the victims of the infamous bombing 10 years earlier and I came across this CNN article by Julia Chan. She identified five foundations started by victims of the bombing.

I've run a bunch of 5Ks, 10Ks and three Half Marathons over the years. My sons have run multiple marathons as adults. Their highschool and college events were fun too.

Runners with the energy to compety and the discipline  to train are admirable athletes. Their families and fans eager enough to make the treck to get to the course early and run around to watch their loved one do thier best create the best sports crowd their is. The fans are rooting for someone they know and thousands are participating.

They are the type of people I would expect to focus their energies to help people.

"Ten years after the Boston Marathon bombing forever changed their lives,

several survivors turned that horrific day into a mission to help others facing trauma and limb loss.

Inspired by the generosity they received after the attack, they created these five non-profits to pay it forward.

THE BRITTANY FUND FOR TRAUMA AND RECOVERY

Grad student Brittany Loring was celebrating her 29th birthday near the finish line when the bombs detonated, sending shrapnel into her head, neck, and thigh and fracturing her skull. Grateful for the outpouring of support she received in the hospital, Loring started The Brittany Fund for Trauma and Recovery two months later to provide financial support to fellow trauma survivors and their families so they can focus on their physical and emotional recovery. Most checks are delivered in-person by the fund’s tightknit team of volunteers, which includes the first responders who rushed to help Loring after the attack.

THE HEATHER ABBOTT FOUNDATION

Marathon spectator Heather Abbott was injured in the second blast. After undergoing surgery to remove her lower left leg, she received a basic prosthesis for walking, but insurance would not cover expensive specialty prostheses that would help her return to her active lifestyle. Thanks to the generous support of donors and organizations that helped survivors, Abbott eventually got devices that allowed her to wear heels, run, and paddleboard again. In 2014, she established the Heather Abbott Foundation to help provide custom prostheses to amputees across the country. To date, Abbott has raised close to two million dollars and helped more than a hundred people. She has previously been featured on CNN Heroes and Champions for Change.

MARTIN RICHARD FOUNDATION

Only eight years old, Martin Richard was the youngest of the three victims killed in the attacks, which also seriously injured his mother and sister. Remembered as “a bright, energetic young boy who had big dreams and high hopes for his future,” Richard’s parents, Denise and Bill, created the Martin Richard Foundation in 2014 to promote sportsmanship, inclusion, kindness, and peace. Since then, the foundation has awarded more than $2.9 million in grants to youth-led community service projects and inclusive sports programs. Richard’s siblings are also involved, leading the non-profit’s youth board of directors. A public park named in honor of Richard opened on the Boston Harbor waterfront in 2019.

ONE WORLD STRONG FOUNDATION

Dave Fortier was steps away from completing his first marathon when the initial bomb exploded, leaving him with shrapnel wounds and hearing loss. Inspired by the compassion of injured Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who came to help, Fortier created the One World Strong Foundation to build an international support network for survivors and families affected by terrorism, hate crimes, and mass casualties. The non-profit has raised more than $800,000 through donations and federal grants to help hundreds of survivors of many incidents, including mass shootings at the Orlando Pulse nightclub, Sandy Hook Elementary School, and Paris Bataclan theater and the Manchester Arena bombing.

REBEKAH'S ANGELS FOUNDATION

Rebekah Gregory and her then-five-year-old son, Noah, were only three feet away from the first bomb. While Rebekah took the brunt of the impact, leaving Noah physically unscathed, both mom and son were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the months after the attack. Launched in 2018, Rebekah’s Angels helps children and families with PTSD and trauma find and pay for specialized mental health treatment and other resources, which are often not covered by insurance. The non-profit also raises awareness of childhood trauma, PTSD and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment."

Julia Chan, CNN

Updated 4:23 PM EDT, Fri April 14, 2023

Caring people are high achievers too.

They see needs as opportunities to make a difference and they train hard to develop skills that provide the best care. I hope this posts helps you find important resources that help people and I hope that it cheers you on as you give your all to provide the best care for someone with a need.