Kevin Abbott fundraising for The Boys & Girls Club of Newton Marathon Team!

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm writing to invite you to take advantage of an opportunity. It's an opportunity to positively influence and impact the youth of the Boston area. It's an opportunity to help me realize a dream. It's an opportunity for you to make a difference.

I will be running the 116th Boston Marathon on April 16th, 2012. You know me as a passionate runner, and the goal of running my first marathon is something I have looked forward to for some time. I recently chose to realize this dream by partnering with the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton, an officially sanctioned charity of the Boston Marathon, to fundraise for the organization in exchange for an official spot in the race. I hope you will consider supporting the children of the Boys & Girls Club, as well as my personal goal of running the Boston Marathon, with a donation.

As fundraising is underway, I have set a goal of raising $5,026. I have chosen this amount for two reasons:

- $5,000 will directly cover the cost for 40 children to attend the club through scholarships

- The remaining $26 represents the importance of the number 26 in my running goal (I want to run 26 miles before I turn 26 years of age).

But its about more than the marathon: I'd like to help fulfill the promise of young people at The Boys & Girls Club, and I'd like you to help join me in achieving it through a donation.

What will a donation to the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club do? It will directly provide resources to help children achieve something great: belief in themselves. The guidance and care provided by the John M. Barry Boys & Girls club aims to develop a positive self-image and instill the values necessary for children to grow into productive, compassionate, and responsible citizens. Kids of all ages and backgrounds grow up with a number of unique challenges. The supportive environment at the Club fosters self-esteem and accomplishment to help kids overcome these challenges, and is evident when you meet and interact with the children each day.

The Boys & Girls Club of Newton is also a safe place for 700 kids to learn and grow, all while having fun. Coming from diverse backgrounds (40% are from minority groups) and ages (ranging from 6-18 years of age), members come together in an effort to spend time in a positive environment, making lifelong friendships in the process.

It goes without saying that I believe children deserve opportunities to best realize their dreams. I see the personal efforts of the staff in helping be an instrumental part of their lives, and I know the impact one can personally have by volunteering.

I also realize the significant cost of ensuring these children can have this great environment. In fact, the annual cost to this particular club for each member is $1,000, a total of $700,000 per year. Funding is essential. By pairing my goal of running the Boston Marathon with this great cause, together we will be able to achieve so much for the kids and ensure they have the essential building blocks to live a good life.

Currently, I am part of a team of runners with this same goal, a team with their own special group of friends and family - people like you - who help support The Boys & Girls Club with a tax-deductible contribution.

Thats why I hope you'll accept my invitation to make a difference in the lives of Boston area children by donating.

When you contribute, you will help directly support children at The Boys & Girls Club. In addition, you will help me realize my goal and dream of running one of the greatest road races of our time, the Boston Marathon. To participate in the race is an honor and a privilege, exclusively reserved for only the most elite runners and dedicated fundraisers. It is humbling to be reminded that although I may be able to run 26.2 miles, I can only run the Boston Marathon with the help of your contribution. Your support, your encouragement, and your donation ensure that I will be able to participate on race day.

So please, right now while everything is in front of you, take a minute to donate to the John M. Barry Boys & Girls club and take the opportunity to have a direct impact on improving the lives of children and helping me run a great race.

Sincerely,

Kevin Abbott

P.S. Cheer me on and mark your calendars for race day, April 16th!