Rachel Berkowsky is running for Team Limb-It-Less
"It was always my lifelong dream of one day running in the most prestigious marathon in the world."
In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon runners share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. If you’re running the marathon, you can share your #WhyImRunningBoston story here.
Name: Rachel Berkowsky
Age: 26
From: Windham, Conn.
I have been chosen to represent and raise money for the Heather Abbott Foundation’s Team Limb-It-Less charity! What is the Heather Abbott Foundation Team Limb-It-Less? Heather was an unfortunate victim of the second of two bombings at the 2013 Marathon, losing her lower leg as a result. The foundation is a non-profit organization that supports raising money for customized prosthetics for those who have suffered limb loss through traumatic events and who would not be able to afford them.
In the Fall of 2018, while attending UConn as a graduate student in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, I had the incredible good fortune of meeting Heather when she visited UConn as a guest speaker. She spoke about her experience, her recovery, the obstacles she faced after the bombing, and her foundation.
For over 15 years, our family attended the marathon, sitting at the 26th-mile mark, watching runners of all nationalities, experiences, and qualifications and we would marvel at the incredible effort and determination that the runners would demonstrate year after year. In 2013, we were at the marathon when the bombings took place, two-short blocks away, a day that we will not soon forget. As a competitive runner in middle school, high school, college, post-college, and now a successful Connecticut high school assistant track and cross country coach, it was always my lifelong dream to one day run in the most prestigious marathon in the world.
I never took for granted my ability and opportunities to run, compete, and coach. The day of the bombings changed me forever. Meeting Heather five years later, was enough motivation. After the past two years running four half marathons and my first marathon in Hartford last October, I felt the time was right to run in Boston. My goal is to raise $8,500. If you would like to make a donation to Heather’s very worthy Foundation, you can do so through her fundraising project on GivenGain. We thank you so much for your support and hope to see you at the finish line on April 17!
Editor’s note: Entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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