Thomas McCarty, who is 71, entered in his 14th Boston Marathon in April. He is one of about 500 teammates who are part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. The challenge invites runners to raise money for basic cancer research and they get to run in the highly competitive race.
Thomas McCarty, a 71-year-old audiologist, celebrated two milestones in April. He entered his 14th Boston Marathon and raised more than $15,000 for cancer research in the process.
McCarty is part of a program in which participants in the famous 26.2-mile race can raise funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in lieu of qualifying with a speedy time. The Boston Marathon is known for having a high barrier to entry and elite runners rubbing shoulders with more mortal athletes.
McCarty started running in his 50s and signed up for Alaska races including the Mayor's Marathon and the Kenai River Marathon. By 2012 he had signed up for his first Boston Marathon. That year, temperatures were among the highest ever during the race - official reports say it reach 89 degrees.
That didn't faze McCarty.
"What I experienced was everyone is so positive," McCarty said. "You have one thing on your mind: to do 26 miles. Nothing else matters. Nothing negative, it's all positive. I never experienced so much positivity in my whole life."
McCarty was on the course during the terrorist bombing in 2013 that left three people dead and many injured. He could not complete the race but came back the next year. It became a habit.
While he keeps fit year around, he starts his marathon training regimen in earnest in September. He works his way up from a few miles a couple of times a week to a full 26 miles before the day of the event. That way, he knows he can meet his target.
In terms of cancer fundraising McCarty has far exceeded his goal. He has raised more than $15,000 this year. McCarty said he got interested in the cancer research aspect because his father has prostate cancer. Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge teammates from across the United States and around the world collectively raise $8.5 million for cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard University.
McCarty is the founder of Audiology Associates, an audiology practice in Anchorage that frequently advertises in the Senior Voice.
Interviewed before the race, he said he was hoping for a mild day with no wind or rain. He doesn't have a time goal.
"At 71, 72, you can't be running for speed," he said.
Nathalie Sczublewski, a spokeswoman for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, said no other runners from Alaska were participating in the fundraising effort for cancer this year. Many Alaska runners do qualify and compete in Boston every year.
Sczublewski said she hopes more runners from Alaska will join the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge next year.
To contribute to the challenge, visit RunDFMC.org or contact the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge office at (617) 632-1970 or dfmc@dfci.harvard.edu. Follow DFMC on Facebook: www.facebook/marathonchallenge.
The link to support Thomas McCarty is https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?fr_id=2310&pg=personal&px=1060097
