Peter Eliopoulos | WCVB 5
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. —
Every city and town along the Boston Marathon Route is given bibs by the Boston Athletic Association as a ‘thank you’ for hosting the prestigious race. Each municipality gets to chose how they dole out their bibs.
The City of Framingham does a lottery system, not only for who gets to run the race, but also for what causes those runners are able to raise money for.
Aline Ribeiro is a high school teacher in Framingham, so when her name was picked in the lottery, she was ecstatic.
“It makes me want to cry, because I never thought I would be about to do this,” she told WCVB.
Even more emotional for her, was when the Mass211 mental health and suicide prevention hotline Call2Talk was drawn as a charity to run for.
“I did not hesitate,” Ribeiro said. “It was five charities [to chose from], and right away I was like, Call2Talk is my charity.”
In total, she was one of 13 runners from Framingham to chose to raise money for Mass211.
“To bring funds to our program, and awareness on top of it, and having them train during these frigid temperatures and this crazy winter, we’re just so honored,” Eileen Davis, Vice President of Mass211 told WCVB.
Ribeiro says she struggled with her own mental health for years, but conquered challenges with the help of family and friends. She says she is using the marathon as a teaching opportunity for her students, especially those who are struggling with their mental health.
“Maybe see in me, and say ‘hey she went through it, and she conquered, and she’s now happy and doing life, maybe I can do it too.’”