November 1, 2024—For the 26th consecutive year, dozens of credit unions from throughout the Northeast will collaborate to sponsor a team of runners in the most challenging and prestigious road race in the world, the Boston Marathon. Since 1897, the Boston Marathon has drawn runners from around the globe to the 26.2 mile route between Hopkinton, MA, and Boston, MA. On April 21, 2025, 30,000 official entrants will participate; eight of these will represent EasCorp’s charitable foundation, Credit Unions Kids at Heart®.
This Boston Marathon is a primary fundraiser for CU Kids at Heart, and Boston Children’s Hospital, one of the leading pediatric care facilities in the U.S., their beneficiary. CU Kids at Heart has raised nearly $10 million toward research on pediatric neurological disorders and other hospital initiatives.
The CU Kids at Heart runners train with one special moment on their minds. In what has become a hugely popular ritual, on Marathon Monday, they will meet their patient partners just several hundred yards from the finish line for a quick hug and smile to lift their spirits for the final push.
The CU Kids at Heart Team runners, their patient partners, and sponsor credit unions are:
- Angie Lauder, first-time runner with CU Kids at Heart. Angie is partnered with Matt and sponsored by Stewart’s Federal Credit Union, Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Brenna Lorenzen, first-time runner with CU Kids at Heart. Brenna is partnered with Maddy and sponsored by Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, Lowell, MA.
- Evan Lowell, first-time runner with CU Kids at Heart. Evan is partnered with Vraj and Kyaire and sponsored by EasCorp and Vertifi Software, Burlington, MA.
- Dr. Ed Smith of Boston Children’s, fifth-time runner for the CU Kids at Heart Team. Ed is paired once again this year with Everett.
- Johan Romero Luna, first-time runner with CU Kids at Heart. Johan is partnered with Ryan and Tim and sponsored by Hanscom Federal Credit Union, Littleton, MA.
- Jon Holso, first-time runner with CU Kids at Heart. Jon is partnered with Jack and sponsored by Granite State Credit Union, Manchester, NH.
- Kevin Dobson, first-time runner with CU Kids at Heart. Kevin is partnered with Isla and sponsored by Service Credit Union, Portsmouth, NH.
- Michelle McGee, first-time runner with CU Kids at Heart. Michelle is partnered with Anthony and sponsored by Digital Federal Credit Union, Marlborough, MA.
CU Kids at Heart Foundation Chair Jane Melchionda reminds us, “They run to raise money for life-saving research and care. They run for the love of their patient partners. None of them are favored to win. All of them are champions.”
Stay tuned for updates on the Team, their training, and their fundraising efforts here and on the CU Kids at Heart website.