We are so proud of our team of Boston Marathon runners, each of whom has a unique story full of personal connections to TCR and strong motivations for running. In order to honor their efforts, we’re going to introduce our team members in two groups. We are proud to share Paudie O’Connor, John Shea, Lindsay Shelton and Michele Walters stories.
Paudie O’Connor
Paudie O’Connor will be running in memory of his son, Harry, who was eight years old when he died in the summer of 2017. Paudie, his wife, and children, moved to Sudbury, MA from Ireland, three years ago. They are currently being served in our peer support groups and by our Teen Program.
Paudie shares, “As a family we have found a resource to help us through this very difficult time. We stumbled across The Children’s Room who provide an amazing service for families in our situation where you can simply go to talk or hang out. Charlie and Ellen, our teenagers, attend a weekly teen group and they find it very useful. Joe, our 11 year old, attends every second Sunday with all of us.”
John Shea
John Shea will be running the marathon for the third year in a row, in memory of his wife, Diane, and in honor of his two daughters, Maeve and Luisa. John’s relationship with TCR began in 2013, when he and his two daughters began attending TCR’s peer support groups after the death of his wife, Diane.
John shares “We are grateful for our family and friends and The Children’s Room for helping us learn to live each day to the fullest, to help us get through some challenging days, and most of all for helping us to keep Diane’s memory alive.”
We are incredibly grateful for the Shea family and their longstanding relationship and support of The Children’s Room.
Lindsay Shelton
Lindsay Shelton will be running her first marathon in memory of her uncle and in honor of her cousins and aunt, who were served by The Children’s Room’s peer support groups. Lindsay currently resides in London, England, and is a former resident of Wayland, MA. She will be training in London, as well as, with the marathon team here in Massachusetts.
Lindsay shares “The Children’s Room became a haven for my cousins and aunt; a place where they could begin to cope and experience their grief with people who had gone through similar losses. My family and I so appreciate the services provided to children and their parents by The Children’s Room.”
This connection with TCR and the marathon, is her way to thank and provide needed finances to TCR for empowering her family and others during such challenging times.
Michele Walters
Michele Walters will be running the marathon in memory of her mother, Dorothy, and in honor of her friend, a runner, who volunteers at The Children’s Room.
Recalling the loss of her mother at six-years-old emphasized her connection to The Children’s Room. After her visit to TCR she shared, “The people who staff the center are wonderful—kind , caring, empathetic people who just seem to get it and draw on a wealth of experience to offer extraordinary care to children and families in need.”
About Our Team
Thanks to the generosity of the John Hancock Non-Profit Marathon Program, this is the ninth year that TCR has received bib numbers for the Boston Marathon. Over the past eight years, our marathon teams have raised over $656,000 to support The Children’s Room. Runners receive ongoing support from The Children’s Room in reaching their fundraising goals, and during their training, the team will be coached by Crissy Straub and Malinda Dublin of MC Coaching.
To support our Boston Marathon team, please click here to visit our page on Crowdrise.
