Prego
poised to Marathon for hospital
By Rob Borkowski/ Staff Writer
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Theresa Prego
knows what it’s like when your child needs serious medical care, and
she’s had the blessing of receiving that care from the Boston
Children’s Hospital, which is why she’s running her fifth Marathon
to benefit the institution.
About
five years ago, Prego said, she learned both her daughters, Gabby,
10 and Mia, 4, had medical conditions that were going to require
long-term care.
Although
Children’s Hospital often gets credit for treating kids with
terminal diseases like cancer, Prego said the doctors at Children’s
Hospital were more than able to deal with long lasting, but not
necessarily fatal, conditions.
"I
think, in fact, that’s where Children’s is stronger," Prego said.
When
Prego learned about the opportunity to run to benefit the hospital,
she said, she was already a regular runner and was convinced the
Hospital was a good cause.
"It
seemed like a really good opportunity and a way to get involved,"
Prego said.
She hit
the streets, and not just for training to prepare for the Marathon.
Prego managed to raise $8,000-$10,000 each time she ran.
The
minimum required fundraising needed to run the Marathon for the
Hospital is $2,500, but, "She typically goes beyond the minimum,"
said Colleen Sullivan, coordinator for Boston Children’s Hospital
Marathon program, "I think she’s totally dedicated to Children’s
Hospital."
That
fundraising helps the hospital provide the sort of long-term and
focused care that so impressed Prego.
"When
it’s your kid, you want someone who’s dealt with kids," Prego said.
At Children’s Hospital, she said, it’s not just the doctors and
nurses - the building itself and the way it operates is built with
children in mind.
Clowns
visit children’s rooms, the entrance is colorful and sports a big
giraffe, and when a parent wants to stay overnight, the staff is
ready to accommodate and encourage the decision.
"I
think the doctors are very specialized on treating kids," Prego
said.
Training
to tackle the 26-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston, at first, did
lead Prego to consider less strenuous ways to contribute to the
cause.
"Especially
as I was training I was definitely thinking that," she said, but,
over the years, she said she’s come to enjoy the rigorous effort for
the cause she believes in.
"It’s a
little bit addicting," she said.
"I
think the reason for that is that she truly believes in the cause,"
Sullivan said.
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Theresa Prego
will run the Boston Marathon April 17 to benefit Children’s
Hospital. (Courtesy photo) |
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