BOSTON, Mass. -- Coaches and athletes alike, everyone runs for a cause.
The Merrimack College community will be represented by at least three student-athletes and coaches when the 130th Boston Marathon begins in Hopkinton on Monday morning.
Skye Tucker, a senior on the Merrimack rowing team, set her eyes on the 2026 Boston Marathon after she completed two marathons last year.
She chased the qualifying time of 3:25, but upon submitting her application came up short of qualifying. Tucker, though, didn't take no for an answer and sought another solution. She reached out to various running clubs, alumni and friends to see if there was another way. Ultimately, she was introduced to Merrimack alumni Dave McGillivray. the founder of the Finish Strong Foundation, and was presented an opportunity to receive a bib.
The Finish Strong Foundation sets out to empower the youth through running, reading, and acts of kindness.
"This resonates deeply with me," said Tucker, a native of Johannesburg, South Africa.
After going to school for four years, Tucker wants to experience the marathon surrounded by the community she calls her second home.
"I wouldn't be here without them, and this felt like a meaningful way to do something for them while also being part of something bigger than myself," Tucker said.
Merrimack head women's lacrosse coach, Jen Fox Sargent, is set to run the marathon for the second time. She completed it in 2014, one year after the tragic Boston Marathon bombing.
Sargent will run for the Team IMPACT program, which matches up children suffering from serious illnesses and disabilities with collegiate athlete programs. At the beginning of the spring season, the Warriors signed Sanibel to their squad.
A graduate of Merrimack in 2009, Sargent first learned about the Team IMPACT program through men's soccer head coach Tony Martone and the Warriors when she was a student. Martone's program was one of the first at Merrimack to adopt the cause and it quickly spread to other teams. Fox Sargent is one of five running for the Team IMPACT program.
Abby Tepper, Sargent's assistant on the women's lacrosse team, also will take on the Boston Marathon. Tepper, who completed both the New York and Chicago marathons, has yet to run the Boston Marathon. She will run for the Ed Walsh foundation, which honors the lieutenant who died in the line of duty. The Ed Walsh foundation supports various different organizations such as the greater Boston YMCA, youth sport programs, and the Boys and Girls club.
Tepper's connection to the foundation hits close to home, as she has first responders in her family. She admires the commitment of Lt. Walsh and looks to carry on what he started.
During the arduous training for the 2026 Boston Marathon, Sargent and Tepper often called each other during their runs. It was "a good way to pass the time," as they put it.
We encourage everyone to donate to these three causes. We're so excited to watch them cross the finish line on Monday!
Skye Tucker - Finish Strong Foundation
Jen Fox Sargent - Team IMPACT
Abby Tepper - Ed Walsh Foundation
