Staff lace up to benefit their Clubs
For many runners, crossing the finish line of a marathon is about achieving an athletic goal. For BGCB staff members Derek Gallagher and Harry Duvall, it’s about inspiring the youth they work with every day and giving back to Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.
On April 19, South Boston Club Executive Director Harry Duvall and Charlestown Athletics Director Derek Gallagher (who is also a Club alumnus) will lace up their running shoes for the 114th Boston Marathon, with proceeds benefitting their respective Clubs.
This is Harry’s 5th year running in the Boston Marathon, for which he qualified, and he will aim to raise $5,000 for the South Boston Club. An avid runner, Harry finished in 3 hours and 14 minutes last year. He trains by running four to six times per week, and has completed numerous marathons across the nation.
In his 13th consecutive year, Derek hopes to raise $2,500 for the Charlestown Club. He qualified for the race through the Boston Athletic Association, which donates invitational entry "bibs" to local non-profits that use the slots to raise funds. Last year, he crossed the finish line in 4 hours and 12 minutes — an impressive accomplishment considering he had no formal training regimen.
Together they raised approximately $6,900 last year thanks to generous supporters, including BGCB staff, Club alumni, family and friends.
“Running the race is a way for me to give back to the Club that has been such a big part of my life and my family’s life,” said Derek, who joined the Charlestown Club at the age of 6. “I wouldn’t feel like crossing that finish line was really an accomplishment unless I knew it was benefitting the Club somehow.”
Running in the Marathon is also a way for both Derek and Harry to communicate the importance of persistence and hard work to Club members.
“Being a kid in urban Boston is not easy, so we run for them. It is an awesome feeling to know that I am literally running for my Club and for our kids,” Harry said.
Help Harry and the South Boston Marathon Team or Derek and the Charlestown Club Team reach — or even surpass — their fundraising goal today by clicking on the links above.