One Run for Boston's 3,000 mile relay from California to Massachusetts starts Friday; UMass Dartmouth relay participants will join One Run for final segment on June 30th to support victims of Boston Marathon Tragedy
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth student leaders announced today additional Torch Relay registration details and a new partnership with One Run for Boston.
The 54-mile torch relay from UMass Dartmouth to Boston will take place on June 30th to benefit the One Fund and to show support for all those impacted by the Boston Marathon tragedy. Students, faculty, alumni and residents who are interested in participating can register online for one or more of the relay's 51 segments at www.umassd.edu/torchrelay/.
In addition, UMass Dartmouth students announced a partnership with One Run For Boston, a group of nearly 1,000 runners who are running from California to Massachusetts in support of Marathon victims. That race leaves Los Angeles on Friday, June 7th, and UMass Dartmouth students will meet One Run for Boston participants in Boston at the end of the final segment on the evening of June 30th.
"We're pleased to announce that registration is open for this tremendous relay that brings together students, faculty, alumni and residents throughout Massachusetts and beyond to benefit the One Fund,'' said relay organizer Joseph Mello, a crime and justice major who graduated from UMass Dartmouth this spring. "Our campus was profoundly affected by the Marathon tragedy, and when we heard about the relay from California to Boston, we thought it would be a great opportunity to come together and show solidarity as one local, national and international community."
The One Run for Boston is the first-ever non-stop running relay across America, which is being organized by three British citizens to show support for the City of Boston and all those impacted by the Marathon tragedy. The relay covers 3,000 miles and has 300 hundred stages.
"When we heard about the terrible tragedy in Boston we wanted to do something to show our support for the City," said Danny Bent, a One Run for Boston organizer. "The relay kicks off in just a few days and we're thrilled to announce this partnership with UMass Dartmouth, a campus that has rallied together and really represents the true spirit of the community in the wake of the Marathon attack."
UMass Dartmouth student leaders are currently seeking participants for each leg of the 55-mile relay that includes segments through Dartmouth, Freetown, Berkley, Taunton, Raynham, Easton, Stoughton, Canton, Milton and Boston. Both walking and running segments are available and during each segment participants will take turns passing the torch. There are about 650 UMass Dartmouth students and 4,000 alumni living in communities along the route.
The UMass Dartmouth relay will end in Boston with participants from the One Run for Boston.
"We're proud that UMass Dartmouth is coming together with runners from around the country and the world to showcase the strength and compassion of our community following the Marathon tragedy," said Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grossman. "We invite our fellow faculty, students, alumni and residents to join us for this event."
This will be the third Torch Relay in UMass Dartmouth history. The first was held in 1965 to rally against state legislation that would have downsized what was then Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute.
For more information on the UMass Dartmouth Torch Relay or make a donation, please visit www.umassd.edu/torchrelay/. For more information on the One Run for Boston, please visit http://onerunforboston.org/.