Easton Family Fundraising for Boston Marathon

The following is from Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital:

For the Showstack family, the Boston Marathon has always been a special day. Bonnie and Bruce have volunteered for the last 13 years at the finish line, and two of their three children Suzanne and Marc have each completed the race over the last few years.  This year their participation is even more meaningful.

April 15, 2013 for most is a day they will not soon forget. For the Showstack family, while they are grateful that while no one they personally knew was injured, members of their family were very close to the events of the day. Suzanne (Adams) is the Director of Development Communications for Spaulding Rehab Hospital, and was helping to organize the post party for Spaulding’s Boston Marathon Race for Rehab team at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.  She was across the street from the second bomb. As Suzanne said, “When the bombs went off, panic arose about where everyone was, and what was going on. The only thing I could think about was my family” 

At the time, Suzanne’s husband, Ryan, was about to complete the marathon when he was quickly stopped at Mass Ave. Bonnie and Bruce were two blocks past the finish line, volunteering as team captains for the Boston Athletic Association as they have been on the corner of Boylston Street and Dartmouth Street.

The hours following the bombings proved difficult for the family. Robyn, who lives in South Carolina, and Marc, who was at work in the financial district tried to connect with their family members who they knew where in the area.  Phone service was jammed. It wasn’t until Facebook postings came through that they each knew that the others were ok. Through the chaos, Bonnie and Bruce remained at their post helping to care for victims and maintain a secure area as Suzanne walked home to Charlestown to reconnect with her husband and their son Blake.

Days following the bombings as the Director of Development Communications for Spaulding, Suzanne worked with other hospital employees to manage in influx of donations coming in to support the Boston Marathon bombing survivors. 

This year, Suzanne is training for her 6th marathon, but knows that this year’s Boston Marathon will be her most memorable and emotional run for a variety of reasons. Suzanne and her husband Ryan are running as part of Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital’s Race for Rehab Boston Marathon team.  In total, Spaulding has 100 runners taking part in the 118th Boston Marathon as part of Spaulding’s Race for Rehab team. The team is comprised of former patients, former patient’s family members, Spaulding staff, community leaders, and rehabilitation advocates. Each member of the Race for Rehab team is required to raise a minimum of $5,000. The funds raised this year by the team will be used to name the 5th floor Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program at Spaulding in honor of the care that was provided to the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings. 

When Suzanne and Ryan cross the finish line on April 21st they both know exactly where Bonnie and Bruce will be; standing strong after the finish line, a place where they have stood for the last 13 years helping to keep the area secure for runners and spectators. 

Read more about why Suzanne is running and help her reach her fundraising goal http://www.crowdrise.com/Spaulding2014BostonMarathon/fundraiser/suzanneadams