West Roxbury Local to run Boston Marathon on YMCA Boston Team

The Boston Marathon has always been close to Adebola Yakubu-Owolewa’s heart. Like many who were born and raised here, she remembers watching the marathon annually with her family. Now, at 35, she gets a chance to run it as part of the YMCA of Greater Boston’s Boston Marathon team.

Running for the YMCA holds special meaning for the Bostonian. She graduated from Harvard Medical School in 2013 and is now a medical examiner in Boston, and credits a particular YMCA initiative for helping her get to where she is today.

As a high school senior, she participated in the Young Achievers program, designed to provide low income and first generation high school students with the support they need to pursue and complete post-secondary education. The support and mentoring she received in the program, which focuses on five key pillars - Academics, College Knowledge, Positive Relationships, Life Skills and Positive Identity - was invaluable.

“People along the way believed in me and encouraged me. I want that to continue for the next generation of youth in Boston,” says Yakubu-Owolewa.

With this mission in mind, Yakubu-Owolewa plans to raise $7,500 from various constituents. “Their donations can help connect youth with amazing programs and mentors and those experiences and relationships can have a lasting impact,” she says.

Taking on the marathon is a challenge, but she believes that pairing a personal goal with an altruistic one is more rewarding, as there is a deeper and more profound meaning to achieving it.

Although this is Yakubu-Owolewa’s first marathon, she does not feel unprepared. As a Pathology resident she learned the importance of steady progression during training and has been closely monitoring her mileage, nutrition and overall health.

In fact, what she is least looking forward to concerning the marathon is the end of her long Saturday runs with her running group. They’ve been a highlight of her winter training.

“Regardless of the weather conditions, I make it to those runs,” says Yakubu-Owolewa. “I will miss that experience after the Boston Marathon.”

All funds raised by Y Marathon team members will support the YMCA of Greater Boston’s teen programs. This past summer, the YMCA of Greater Boston gave out 17,000 free three-month memberships to teens at the Y’s 13 branches with unlimited access and held more than 900 community events. Programs like Safe Dating, Cyber Bulling, Job Readiness, Volunteerism, Leadership, SAT prep and mentoring programs empower and engage youth in productive ways.

“When you run for the Y’s Boston Marathon team, you are raising money to help us give a teen in Greater Boston access to summer programming, swim classes, and camp,” says James Morton, YMCA of Greater Boston President and CEO. “This past summer was our busiest to date with each of our branches creating programming to fit the needs of the youth in their neighborhoods, which would not be possible without funds raised by our runners. We wish them the best this April.”

Runners who have qualified to receive a Boston Marathon bib and would like to experience the camaraderie of running with a team while supporting charity are welcome to join the YMCA of Greater Boston’s Marathon team by raising a minimum of $1,500.

To donate to Adebola Yakubu-Owolewa and the rest of the YMCA team, please visit: https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/ymca-boston-2019.

ABOUT THE YMCA OF GREATER BOSTON:

The YMCA of Greater Boston is the state’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities. Every day the Y works with thousands of men, women and children to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. As the nation’s fifth largest charity, the Y is creating meaningful memberships. Going beyond gym and swim, the Y provides members with access to quality health and fitness experts and equipment while giving back and providing support to thousands every day. For more than 165 years, the Y has been developing skills and emotional well-being through education and training, welcoming and connecting diverse populations, preventing chronic disease and building healthier communities through collaborations and policymakers. The Boston YMCA is the first Y in the United States