2020 Tenacity Marathon Team
Help our runners raise $150,000 for Tenacity
Click below to see runner profiles and make donations
- Stan Collins
Stan Collins
Age: 59Where is home? San Augustine, Texas
Number of marathons? 7
What got you excited to fundraise for Tenacity? An opportunity to help make a positive impact in the lives of others outside of my hometown.
What inspires you on the long runs? Thoughts of how blessed I am at my age to be able to enjoy the great feeling of freedom and accomplishment running provides.
A fun fact: I have been referred to as a dirt dobber because I keep trying and don’t give up easily.
What is your fundraising goal? $10,000
- Brooke Conley
Brooke Conley
Age: 28Where is home? Boston
Number of marathons? One - Boston Marathon 2017
What got you excited to fundraise for Tenacity? I am excited to fundraise for Tenacity because of their inspiring mission and community involvement in Boston. While being a part of the Tenacity 2017 Marathon team, I was able to interact with children involved with the organization who inspired me through their stories and experiences. Witnessing the benefits of being part of Tenacity excited me in 2017 and was a motivating factor of why I want to run again for the charity in 2020.
What inspires you on the long runs? Crossing the finish line
A fun fact: I grew up in Paris, France and have been to over 30 countries
What is your fundraising goal? $7,000
- Ben Gallagher
Ben Gallagher
Age: 27Where is home? Boston, MA
Number of marathons? I have never run a marathon before
What got you excited to fundraise for Tenacity? Tenacity's mission is highly tangible and supportive of the entire community, and its focus on youth and high school graduation rates is incredible.
What inspires you on the long runs? The feeling of accomplishment afterwards. If I have a scenic route to run, that's a plus.
A fun fact: I recently got engaged on a run!
What is your fundraising goal? $10,000
- Robbie Garcia
Robbie Garcia
Where is home? Born in the US, raised in Ecuador and today I live in Panama (Central America)
Number of marathons? Boston will be my 6th Major Marathon. Chicago (2011), Berlin (2013), New York (2015), Tokyo (2019), London (2019), and hopefully Boston 2020.
What got you excited to fundraise for Tenacity? Love the program and the impact it has in our next generation. I would like to explore the idea of taking this model to Panama.
What inspires you on the long runs? The camaraderie among our fellow runners during our long runs is what keeps me going. We discuss local and international politics, sports, arts, family, travel plans, and how we plan to save the world!
A fun fact: Completing Panama’s Gran Fondo Ocean to Ocean where you take a 60 mile bike ride (crossing the entire country) from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, along the Panama Canal.
What is your fundraising goal? $5,000+
- Frances Hawes
Frances Hawes
Age: 34Where is home? Moved here from Ireland when I was 10 and have been on the south shore area since. Been living in Pembroke for the last 4 years and moving to eau Claire, WI next august to start a tenure track position.
Number of marathons? 1 (Disney marathon)
What got you excited to fundraise for Tenacity? A friend of mine shared the page with me and your mission really inspired me. I teach at several community colleges (bunker hill, Massasoit and Quincy college) and have also taught college bound courses via college bound Dorchester. Making sure people have access to education is something I’m very passionate about.
What inspires you on the long runs? Running is like a therapy for me- it allows me to process the week and get back in touch with what’s important. And knowing I can finish to a hot bath... haha.
A fun fact: I'm a total animal lover. I fostered dogs for the last several years (stopped last year), I have 2 dogs and 5 chickens.
What is your fundraising goal? Minimum $7k, goal $10k
- Ben Hotz
Ben Hotz
Age: 28Where is home? Live in Boston, MA. Originally from North Jersey.
Number of marathons? 2
What got you excited to fundraise for Tenacity? A bit of background on myself - I grew up around many friends and family members who were at risk of not graduating high school. Most of those people, both ones who graduated and the drop outs, went on to not have a real shot at post-secondary success.
I got excited to fundraise for Tenacity because those people that I knew were not dumb, did not lack ambition, and could have made a meaningfully positive impact on society if they had been given the right resources and guidance when their paths started to veer direction. With a bit more structure in their lives, I feel they could have gone on to do great things.
I'm confident that my friends and family members were not isolated incidents and I would like to dedicate my time and effort to see if I can help ambitious young minds stay on the path of success and have the opportunity to change the world.
What inspires you on the long runs? The opportunity to go places I’ve never been, see things I’ve never witnesses, and push myself beyond the limits I previously set for myself.
A fun fact: I am the oldest of four siblings. In order it goes, me, my twin brother, my younger sister, and my younger brother (those last two are also twins).
What is your fundraising goal? $7,000
- Gabi Kaufman
Gabi Kaufman
Age: 24 (25 by race day!)Where is home? Home is Boston!
Number of marathons? This will be my second marathon!
What got you excited to fundraise for Tenacity? What got me excited to raise funds for Tenacity was my connection to the program. I am working on my master's in school counseling and interning at a BPS school that houses a Tenacity program. I see how amazing the program is and what it does for its students. It is an honor to run for a team that I know well and can really get behind!
What inspires you on the long runs? On long runs, I am always inspired by my goals— to finish the race and to be a part of this amazing team!
A fun fact: I initially got into running because friends doubted that I could run a half marathon. It just sort of stuck!
What is your fundraising goal? $10,000
- Cris Kuwe
Cris Kuwe
Age: 42Where is home? Singapore
Number of marathons? 14
What got you excited to fundraise for Tenacity? I love to channel my fundraising efforts to support the students' community as they are the future of our society. Tenacity is one of the rare organisations that focus on supporting and motivating kids through sports. Tenacity's gear being sponsored by New Balance is also a great bonus!
What inspires you on the long runs? Long runs are always difficult but being able to fulfil both the mileage and pace targets are the source of my inspirations, especially meaningful when you look back at your training memories after achieving a PB for your race.
A fun fact: Boston will be my 6th star!
What is your fundraising goal? $10,000
- Thomas Nolan
Thomas Nolan
Age: 31Where is home? Live in South Boston
Number of marathons? 1st one
What got you excited to fundraise for Tenacity? I've known tennis for years through my involvement with tennis and the local community. I attended the gala years ago, when I first got out of school, and have loved the mission since. Every event Tenacity puts on I try to be a part of and help out, and love seeing these inspiring stories year in and year out.
What inspires you on the long runs? Getting to the finish line!
A fun fact: I went to Boston College, and I am very excited about being on the other side of the fence, feeling that support from the students.
What is your fundraising goal? $7,500
- Rachel Palumbo
Rachel Palumbo
Age: 23Where is home? Norfolk, MA
Number of marathons? This is my first!
What got you excited to fundraise for Tenacity? I am extremely passionate about advancing opportunity for marginalized populations, especially youth given my love for kids, so the mission of the Tenacity org and community really speaks to me! I believe kids should get to be kids and should have equal access to opportunity regardless of the situation they are born into. I also am an athlete at heart and love the tie Tenacity has to the game of tennis.
What inspires you on the long runs? Getting to push myself and use my privilege and opportunity to further that of others; I love a good challenge.
A fun fact: I can say the ABCs backwards, fast!
What is your fundraising goal? $7,000
- Tom Sullivan
Tom Sullivan
Age: 25Where is home? Home is currently in Bedford, New Hampshire
Number of marathons? I have never run a marathon before
What got you excited to fundraise for Tenacity? What inspired me to run for Tenacity was my own experience with academic assistance and athletic participation growing up. It made a major impact on my schooling and I've grown into the person I am because I was given the resources that Tenacity provides for their students and athletes. Everyone deserves a fair chance to receive an education and Tenacity does a fantastic job of giving kids an opportunity to reach their potential through the structured programs they provide.
What inspires you on the long runs? My playlist inspires me on long runs. I listen to just about anything but the flavor of the month right now is Avicii and Kygo.
A fun fact: My favorite type of frappe - A black and white with Brigham's ice cream.
What is your fundraising goal? My Fundraising goal is $8,000, hoping to surpass that though!
Visit our GoFundMe team page for more profiles
Tenacity is proud to announce that we have been invited to participate in the Boston Marathon® Official Charity Program for an eighth consecutive year. We are no longer accepting applications to fill our team of 15 charity runners for the 124th running of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2020, however, qualified runners are welcome to apply and will receive the same team benefits as our charity runners with a lower fundraising minimum. The Tenacity Marathon Team – TMT ’20 – will raise funds to support the important work Tenacity is doing to narrow the opportunity and achievement gaps for students in Boston on their Pathway to Post Secondary Success. Since 2013, over $1M has been raised through our marathon runners, averaging almost $10k per runner. Those funds support the programs Tenacity delivers to students on the Tenacity Pathway. Our goal with TMT ’20 is to raise $150,000.
Boston Marathon® and the Unicorn logo are trademarks of the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) and are used with permission by Tenacity as a participant in the 2020 Boston Marathon Official Charity Program.
Visit our team fundraising page to see our progress towards our $150,000 goal and to donate to individual runners.
We are grateful to the B.A.A. for this continued partnership!