From Mountains to Marathons

Dear Supporter:

I am running the 2010 Boston Marathon on behalf of the Esplanade Association, a non-profit organization charged with restoring and maintaining the green space along the banks of the Charles River that stretch from Cambridge through Boston. Over three million residents, tourists and students use the Esplanade annually, with a half million visitors alone crowding into the park during the July 4th celebrations. However, while the Esplanade is loved and appreciated, its health is wavering. The soil is exhausted, the grass is worn out and the trees are burdened with dead branches. The edges of the paved pathways continue to erode, increasing the risk of pollutants entering the river. And the historic granite bridges, archways and monuments that have transformed the Esplanade into something more than just a green space are crumbling into the water. The Esplanade Association strives to put complacency to rest—through advocacy and volunteer coordination, the organization works to ensure that the Esplanade and other city parks across the country and around the world remain vibrant, safe and beautiful public resources for generations to come.

For me, the Esplanade has always been a kind of safe haven. Moving from New Hampshire to Boston for college was, in many ways, a cultural and environmental shock, and the Esplanade along with other city parks provided an escape reminiscent of home. Nature, while underappreciated, is a necessary facet of life, and in my opinion, healthy lifestyles and happiness are in part dependent on scenery that is not littered with concrete and steel. My goal is to raise $3,500 for the Esplanade Association by Marathon Monday on April 19th, but in reality those funds represent so much more. They represent my own journey—I remember clearly when I could not run one kilometer let alone 26.22 miles, a transformation I owe to the fresh air and natural motivation provided by the wilderness areas both in and around Boston and back north in New Hampshire. They also represent those future generations who will hopefully aspire to the same challenges and goals in a world with more—not less—green spaces, where city parks will still offer escape and peace. And finally, they represent the individuals who are no longer with us; family and friends who would wish the same for a planet on the edge of so many important judgments and irreversible decisions.

Please feel free to share the message with others; a little can go a long way, and together we really can make a difference. Thanks in advance for your support.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Boyden

Total including offline donations: $2,357