TA News

Ten years ago, Morgan Gaffney ‘20 was a 10 year-old spectator near the Boston Marathon finish line. She was there to cheer on her mom Renee, who was running that day with her longtime team.

The event turned traumatic for Morgan when the race was disrupted by the Boston Marathon bombing, an act of domestic terrorism that killed three people and injured hundreds of others. “It was a long time before [Morgan] was comfortable in crowds again or could even talk about the bombing,” Renee says, “the experience was very difficult for her.”

This April, 10 years after the bombing, Morgan will run the 127th Boston Marathon – her first – in honor of those affected by the bombing. Though she was part of the cross country and track and field teams throughout her years at TA, she doesn’t consider herself a distance runner and is taking her training seriously. She’ll run with her mom’s former team (who reconnected for the anniversary) and, Renee said proudly, “is taking this marathon back as a positive experience.” 

While she trains and prepares, Morgan is fundraising for the Hole in the Wall Gang camp, an organization close to her heart. For the past 22 years, Renee has been a volunteer nurse there, and Morgan attended the week-long camp with her mom for many years. The camp, founded by Paul Newman in 1988, “provides opportunities for children with serious illnesses to experience the transformational spirit and friendships that go hand-in-hand with camp.”

“The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp does amazing work for children with serious diseases,” Morgan says, “giving kids the full summer camp experience with full medical accommodations and resources they need.” 

Last week, Morgan’s training was up to 12 miles – and she’d hit the first milestone ($2500) toward her $8,500 fundraising goal. As she embarks on the next leg of her training, she is excited to rack up the miles, and the donations, to reach her marathon goals.

Support Morgan Gaffney’s fundraising for the Hole in the Wall Gang camp.