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Martha Chicoski, a Boston native who lives in Albuquerque, said it has been a tradition for her family to watch runners cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon since she was little. But two weeks ago, this tradition almost cost her father his life.
“We grew up cheering people every year,” she said. “He was watching. My father was 30 feet from where the first explosion happened.”
On April 15, two bombs exploded near the finish line of the annual Boston Marathon at about 2:50 p.m. EST. Three people died in the blast, and another 264 were wounded. Police subsequently identified two suspects: The first, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was killed in a police shootout early April 18, and his brother, the second suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, is in police custody after a day-long manhunt April 19.
Chicoski’s father was not injured, but she said the tragedy that occurred at the annual event was horrible.
“Boston is an amazing city and an amazing community,” she said. “I have relatives that live in towns that were put on lockdown. It’s crazy, but it’s now the reality that we live in.”
Chicoski is a volunteer for the upcoming ‘ABQ 5k 4 Boston’ run on Sunday afternoon. The event aims to raise $47,000, representing New Mexico’s being the 47th state incorporated into the U.S., for Boston’s First Responders Fund, and starts at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
Chicoski said participating in the event is a way to show support for the victims from afar.
“I grew up in Boston and I have a connection to that city,” she said. “It’s such a wonderful way to get involved (over) such a great distance, over 2,000 miles away.”
Brian Colón, a UNM alumnus, began organizing the event a few days after the incident. He said he related to the stories of the victims — especially to 8-year-old Martin Richard, who was killed by the explosions — and he felt the need to help.
“My son Rafael, who is 15 years old, and I try to do a 5k every month,” he said. “He’s fit and he always ends up waiting for me at the finish line. When I heard the story of Martin Richard, who died waiting for his dad at the finish line, I lost my breath.”
Colón said that his event attracted local attention after he publicized it through Facebook.
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“I’m fortunate to have 5,000 friends on Facebook,” he said. “Some people just said, ‘Tell me what you’re doing and I’ll do it.’ Some people just stepped up.”
Colón said to reach his $47,000 goal, about 1,000 people need to register for the event. He said that “several hundred” people have already registered.
But Colón said he expects to meet his goal through the support of the University community. He said he encourages students to participate in the event.
“As a graduate of UNM, I’ve always taken pride that the University, when somebody is in need, it always responds with support,” he said. “I suspect they’re going to do the same on Sunday.”
Chicoski said she is optimistic the event will be successful. She said the event will help show the country’s unity after the tragedy.
“Just because we can’t be in the city doesn’t mean that we can’t help them,” she said. “This bond of support is so American.”
ABQ 5k 4 Boston
National Hispanic Cultural Center
Sunday
Assembly starts at noon, race starts at 1 p.m.
$25 per person
Register at ABQ4Boston.com
