Local

From Blue Line to the Finish Line: Bruins legend Zdeno Chara to run Boston Marathon next month

By Boston 25 News Staff

Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara is introduced to the crowd before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

By Boston 25 News Staff

Zdeno Chara patrolled the Bruin’s blue line for 14 years. Next month, he’s hoping just to reach Boston’s finish line.

The longtime Bruins captain announced Sunday that he plans to run in the Boston Marathon in April to support the Hoyt Foundation and the Thomas E Smith Foundation.

The Hoyt Foundation was established in 1989 by the father-son duo of Rick and Dick Hoyt. Dick pushed his son, a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy, across Boston’s iconic finish line 32 times between 1981 and 2014.

According to the organization’s website, the Hoyt Foundation aims “to build the individual character, self-confidence and self-esteem of America’s disabled young people through inclusion in all facets of daily life; including in family and community activities, especially sports, at home, in schools, and in the workplace.”

“Dick and Rick Hoyt made an incredible impact on millions of people worldwide and personally helped to motivate us to our 2011 Stanley Cup Championship. The Hoyt Foundation has an amazing legacy with the B.A.A. and this iconic marathon,” wrote Chara on Instagram.

The Thomas E Smith Foundation is a non-profit begun by Swampscott native Tom Smith, who ran four Boston marathons between 2008 and 2010 despite three spinal cord injuries.

The Foundation’s mission is “to better the lives of those affected by and living with paralysis through financial and emotional support, as well as supporting preventive innovations that decrease the risk of spinal cord injuries.”

“Tom Smith is one of the most resilient and inspiring stories. With his passion and dedication, his foundation continuously helps those affected by and living with paralysis,” wrote Chara.

Chara spent 14 of his 25 years in the NHL in Boston, all donning the captain’s C. The Stanley Cup was never lifted higher than when the 6′9″ Chara hoisted the trophy in 2011 as the Bruins captured their first championship in nearly 40 years.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

©2023 Cox Media Group

Most Read