The Miles + Memories Boston Marathon team of The Children’s Room raised $50,000 for the nonprofit, which serves grieving families throughout the Greater Boston area facing catastrophic loss related to the death of a family member.

“Our Miles + Memories Boston Marathon team is an important piece of our annual fundraising efforts, and that success has been built on our partnership with our runners and with the John Hancock Charity Bib Program,” said Donna Smith Sharff, executive director of The Children’s Room. “We select runners for our team who have a strong connection with our mission, and then we help them meet their fundraising goals. We held an auction at The Children’s Room to support them, and we frequently check in with our team members and offer whatever support is needed to help them with their individual fundraising and training efforts. Our runners are incredibly generous to us, and we want them to succeed — not just in raising money for our organization, but in accomplishing the often life-changing goal of running a marathon. This year, we are delighted to announce that each of our five team members finished the marathon despite incredibly hot temperatures on race day.” 

Local Arlington businesses including Arlington Chiropractic, The Meat House, Bouvier Jewelers, Swanson Jewelers, Menotomy Wine & Beer, and Giles Fine Wine contributed generously to The Children’s Room Miles+Memories Boston Marathon Team. 

This year’s Miles + Memories team originally pledged to raise $27,500 for the critical services provided by The Children’s Room to grieving families, but easily exceeded that goal by raising approximately $50,000.

Courtney Silva of Marlborough ran in memory of her father Wayne, who died when Courtney was six. Courtney, whose family was one of the first ever served by The Children’s Room, is now a volunteer group facilitator for The Children’s Room.

Deana Hickey of Melrose ran both in memory of her husband Sean, and out of a desire to pay forward the support she and their three children have received from their friends and community in this first year since her husband’s death.

Anne Scharpf of Southborough and her three children attended The Children’s Room after the sudden death of her husband and their father three years ago. Her husband, Jim, was a fitness enthusiast and he had always aspired to run the Boston Marathon. 

Chris Ellsasser of Groton is a teacher who understands the critical role that educators play in helping children cope with catastrophic loss; he ran to support the work of The Children’s Room so that fewer people will be forced to face tragedy and loss on their own.

Jill Hurley of Gloucester has volunteered at The Children’s Room since April 2011 and ran in memory of her father, who died when she was eight years old. Remembering how there was no program like that offered by The Children’s Room available to her and her mother at that time, Jill is committed to supporting the work of The Children’s Room.

Donations to the Miles + Memories team can still be made by visiting ChildrensRoom.org/miles-memories.

The mission of The Children’s Room is to help grieving children, teens, and families to go on living fully. It envisions a world in which death is recognized as an organic part of life; there are no societal obstacles in the natural expression of grief; children and their families who have suffered the death of a loved one are embraced by a safe and caring community they can rely on to help them cope with the grieving process; and these children are seen as models and teachers to others in reaffirming the fullness of life. The Children’s Room is dedicated to realizing this vision through facilitated peer support groups, public education, and public, creative expression by teens. Its annual Circle of Hope fundraising breakfast takes place May 3, 2012 at The Newton Marriott.