North Andover Mom Running 2017 Boston Marathon For A Good Cause

NORTH ANDOVER - If you drive the streets of North Andover you have probably seen runner Stephanie Godley sprinting around town with the number 8 on her back as she hits the pavement training for the 2017 Boston Marathon.

Godley, 41, of 280 Salem St., is running the 2017 Boston Marathon with Team MR8, the running team of the Martin Richard Foundation.

"There is a power in running Boston that goes beyond the physical. To run for this foundation, to run as part of this team, is truly an honor," Godley said.

The Martin Richard Foundation was formed by the parents of eight-year-old Martin Richard, who was killed in the bombings at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013.

The Martin Richard Foundation's mission is to motivate and to appeal to the good in others so that we may continue to invest in athletics, education and community bridge building while encouraging youth to be their best selves.

The foundation supports numerous programs in and around Boston and strives to bring Martin's message of peace out to youth and the community.

"If you had told me twenty years ago that one day I would be running the Boston marathon, invested in community sports and athletics, coaching basketball at the YMCA, and raising two sports loving sons I would have said you're crazy," said Godley, a reasearch manger at MITRE Corp. in Bedford.

"But here I am, loving every minute of cheering, coaching, and running, running, running. I've been overwhelmed by the support from friends and family," she said.

Godley's two sons, Dunny, 8, a student at the Franklin School, and 11-year-old Finn, who attendes North Andover Middle School are her biggest supporters, she said.

"They encourage me on my runs, cheering me on and checking on my mileage. They are wearing their MR8 gear with pride and have donated to my fundraiser from their own pockets," she said.

While the boys understand the tragedy of what happened back in 2013, they also understand the power of what happens when people come together and work for the common goal of peace, Godley said.

Running Boston with Team MR8 is not just about the actual marathon, but also about spreading the message of the foundation, she adds.

The team sold 50/50 raffle tickets at the Boston Bruins game, raising money for the benefit of the foundation.

The following is a list of North Andover residents running in the 2017 Boston Marathon:
Agosti, Jenifer R.
Anderson, Elin S.
Applin, Tracy
Callahan, Erica B.
Caron, Jeanne
Carpenter, Bobby E. Jr.
Casey, Kathleen E.
Cooper, Steve
Godley, Stephanie
Gorman, John J.
Gosselin, Kerry
Hamann, Leah H.
Hendrickson, Kevin R.
Hurley, Susan
Hynes, CarolAnn
Iannarone, Kate T.
Jackson, Kristina
Kinneman, Tom
Larosa, Mark
Lee, Olga
LoBianco, Tara L.
Manzi, Albert P. Jr.
Mason, Christopher

McGillivray,Dave

McVeigh, Erin C.

Moran, Troy J.
Narcisi, Eric
Plume, Lisa C.
Siwicki, Katie B.
Torabi, Susanne
Tortolano, Michael F.

To donate: https://www.crowdrise.com/MR8Boston2017/fundraiser/stephaniegodley
To learn more about the Martin Richard Foundation: http://www.martinrichardfoundation.org/

Photo of Stephanie Godley and her son Dunny at finish line of Knights on the Run 5k last October/ Courtesy photo by Stephanie Godley.

Photo of Stephanie Godley (center) with her biggest supporters, sons Finn and Dunny/ Courtesy photo by Stephanie Godley.