After months of training, our Boston GoTeam runners put their sneakers to the pavement on Monday, April 17, to run the 127th Annual Boston Marathon to benefit Team IMPACT. This year, we are proud to have four runners, each running 26.2 miles for their chosen GoTeammate, a child matched in our program who has been motivating and inspiring them to keep pushing through the finish line.
Meet our 2023 Boston Marathon GoTeam!
Brianna Cummings – GoTeammate Joey, Holy Cross Men’s Lacrosse
Brianna, from Franklin, MA, is a former Track and Field athlete at Holy Cross College, where she also served as a Team IMPACT Fellow. Since graduating, Brianna has joined the staff at Team IMPACT as a Fellowship Coordinator, hoping to give current college athletes the same experience with Team IMPACT that she had as a student-athlete.
When asked why she wanted to run for Team IMPACT, Brianna said, “I have gained so much from Team IMPACT as a student-athlete. [Team IMPACT] was one of the most rewarding things I was able to do as a student. I love the mission of the organization and the commitment to give every child the sense of community associated with sport. There is no organization quite like Team IMPACT, and I would love to be able to do something this special for a group of people who means so much to me.“
Kyle Brennan – GoTeammate Patrick, Endicott Men’s Lacrosse
A former Endicott baseball player and team captain, Kyle was instrumental in getting is team matched up with their Team IMPACT teammate, Marco. This year, Boston-native Kyle is running the Marathon for another of Endicott’s Team IMPACT teammates, Patrick, who is matched with the men’s lacrosse team.
“During my senior year of college, I was the captain of the baseball team at Endicott and mentioned to my coach that I had heard about Team IMPACT and thought it would be a great idea to get involved,” Kyle shared. “Shortly afterwards, our team joined the Team IMPACT family and took in Marco as a teammate. Although we were only able to see him (in person) once or twice because of the pandemic, I was so happy to see the smile on his face and how much he loved baseball. [Team IMPACT] is the type of organization that I would love to raise money for so more children can experience the camaraderie that comes through collegiate sports teams.“
Meghan Lewis – GoTeammate Ariel, Stonehill Women’s Basketball
Meghan, from Boston, MA, played basketball at Trinity College, where her team was matched with their Team IMPACT teammate Laura. Now running the Marathon for Stonehill Basketball’s teammate Ariel, Meghan credits her relationship with Laura for pushing her to get more involved with Team IMPACT.
“Team IMPACT has left a lasting impression on me since I first became acquainted with the organization as a student-athlete at Trinity College,” Meghan said. “During my sophomore year, I was introduced to Laura and her parents, who were matched with my basketball team. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my love of the game of basketball with someone who loved the game as much as I did. Laura and I quickly developed a deep connection, and I often stayed after practice to shoot around with Laura and get to know her as a person.
Laura and her parents were true members of our team; they attended games, participated in team trips and dinners, and even hosted dinners in their home. The addition of Laura and her parents to our team was mutually beneficial for all parties. By running the Boston Marathon and fundraising for Team IMPACT, it is my hope that more students and their families as well as student-athletes can experience the same joy, fulfillment, and support I did with my relationship with our Team IMPACT team member, Laura.”
Michelle Poirier – GoTeammate Kyle, Johns Hopkins Men’s Lacrosse
Michelle, who attended Johns Hopkins University for both undergrad and graduate school programs, stays connected to Team IMPACT as a member of our Boston Young Professionals Board. Michelle works for our partner Vertex Pharmaceuticals and is running the marathon for her GoTeammate Kyle, matched with Johns Hopkins’ Men’s Lacrosse.
When asked why she chose to run for Team IMPACT, Michelle said, “I could go on and on and on about how amazing a program and community Team IMPACT is and how Team IMPACT truly makes an impact in this world. However, I’ll keep it short and sweet to answer the question.
I have a handful of favorite quotes that have significant meaning in my life. My absolute favorite quote—that is currently hanging on my bedroom wall—is by Mark Twain: ‘The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.’ I have always admired that quote because it embodies both the excitement of the journey to ultimately find out what that good purpose is all about, as well as the notion that everyone has the prospect of doing something truly meaningful in their lives. I believe that being part of Team IMPACT is in fact bringing me one step closer to finding my ‘why.’ It would be an honor and a privilege to receive a bib and run for such an incredible and impactful organization.”
Track our GoTeam by downloading the B.A.A. Racing App and following along by runners’ names and bib numbers, listed below. Give to our Boston GoTeam fundraising pages and learn more about our GoTeams and upcoming races by clicking the buttons at the bottom of the page.
- Brianna Cummings, #12692
- Kyle Brennan, #26920
- Meghan Lewis, #26919
- Michelle Poirier, #26918
Thank you and good luck to Brianna, Kyle, Meghan, Michelle, and all runners participating in this year’s Boston Marathon! We’ll see you at the finish line.