Welcome Letters

April 21, 2014

Dear Members of the Media,

In the days leading up to this year’s Boston Marathon, we will pay tribute to the survivor community and those who lost their lives last year, while recognizing those who reacted courageously to save others. Two days prior to the Boston Marathon, 10,000 entrants will take part in an expanded 2014 B.A.A. 5K at Boston Common amid the growing excitement and energy of Marathon weekend.

As we look forward to the Boston Marathon, we thank the many partners whose leadership and support make this event possible. We thank the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the eight cities and towns along the course for their cooperation in planning an event of this size and scope. We also appreciate the enthusiastic aid of our 10,000 volunteers who return year after year to be part of this athletic event and who lend us their experience and expertise on this day. Finally, we thank our sponsors, particularly principal sponsor John Hancock, whose partnership with this event for the past 29 years ensures its status among the world’s most prestigious sporting events.

This year, we welcome back defending champion, Lelisa Desisa, who won last year’s race in 2:10:22. Top contenders Dennis Kimetto, Gebre Gebremariam, and Micah Kogo will look to challenge Desisa for the champion’s laurel wreath. On the women’s side, reigning champion, Rita Jeptoo, returns to Boston after her 2:26:25 victory last April. Jeptoo will aim for her third victory in Boston against past champions Sharon Cherop and Caroline Kilel. These elite athletes will lead a field of 36,000 entrants on the 26.2-mile journey from Hopkinton to Boston.

In 2014, the Boston Marathon belongs to all of us, runners and non-runners alike, who believe in the values of freedom and democracy that we celebrate on Patriots’ Day. This April 21st, Boston will stand as one community, ready to restore the majesty of Marathon Monday.

Finally, we thank you, the members of the media, who will cover this event from beginning to end with varying perspectives and insights. Thank you for joining us on what will surely be a memorable day in the history of the Boston Marathon and the City of Boston.

Sincerely,

April 21, 2014

Dear Members of the Media,

The story of the Boston Marathon is about bringing people together to share their experiences. Elite athletes line up to race on the same starting line as non-profit runners, volunteers line up along the route amongst thousands of fans, and race officials stand side-by-side with support teams. Your coverage connects these groups and the world to every wonderful element that is this historic race.

Last year you captured, with great responsibility and professionalism, a race day tragedy that required courage and determination from all of us. Throughout the past year, your tributes and exemplary reporting have helped illuminate a path forward to healing. We thank you.

This year as the world turns its focus once again to Boston for Marathon Monday, we know just as you pay tribute to all those affected by last year's April 15 tragedy you will also highlight the resolve and resiliency of the City of Boston and the global running community.

Our defending champions, Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia and Rita Jeptoo of Kenya, return to lead 36,000 runners over the historic Hopkinton to Boston route. Joining them on the John Hancock Elite Athlete Team are champions of 80 global marathons, medalists from Olympic and World Championships, and winners of World Marathon Majors in Boston, Chicago, New York City and Tokyo.

These elites all want to show their respect for the victims, survivors and the community, and we applaud their initiatives. After winning the race last year, our champion Lelisa Desisa returned to Boston to compete in the B.A.A. 10K, and at that time he gifted his marathon medal to the City of Boston and to all of those affected by the tragedy. His heartfelt gesture reminds us of the thoughtful and generous spirit of so many people who have supported and helped the survivors and their families, including those who have donated to The One Fund Boston.

This year, as the world watches, we know you will be there every step of the way covering the race and the inspirational stories of everyone who make our marathon community so extraordinary. You will report the courage of the push-rim wheelchair athletes, the determination of the qualified and invitational runners, and you will inspire us once again with the journey of Dick and Rick Hoyt who in their 31st anniversary of the race last year were stopped, along with so many other deserving runners, just short of the finish line.

As we at John Hancock mark our 29th year as principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon, we continue to value our long-standing partnership with the Boston Athletic Association and recognize their exemplary accomplishment of organizing and sustaining this premier event for the past 118 years. This past year in particular, we were inspired by the generosity and outreach demonstrated by the B.A.A. to a community seeking to heal and to help others.

We welcome you to the City of Boston and once again thank you for your outstanding and professional coverage of the world's most historic race –the Boston Marathon.

 

Craig Bromley
President, John Hancock Financial