First Team Meeting Recap!

Thank you to those who attended the team meeting! It was great to see so many teammates in-person and virtually…WHAT A TEAM! From near and afar, there were over 70 of us gathered to kick off the season and we couldn’t be more excited!

If you were unable to join us, or want a copy, click here to review the meeting PowerPoint. There is a plethora of information, and we really encourage you to spend the time going through, RSVPing where needed and making sure you are set up for success.

Five things to note:

  1. Save the Runner Portal (http://marathon.bwhevents.org/) to your phone – directions are on slide 32 and this is your hub to all the information you need throughout the season!
  2. RSVP for ONE small team gathering with the Reny’s (first come, first served) – links are on slide 36.
  3. If you are looking for a hotel room, you can be entered into a chance drawing for one of our limited rooms at the Revere Hotel on slide 37. The cost is the responsibility of the runner.
  4. Mark your calendar for other meetings and events found on slide 38.
  5. Make SURE to get your fundraising preparation started for #GivingTuesday and our team fundraising challenge! Details are on slide 50.

Email marathonteam@bwh.harvard.edu if you have any questions or want to set up 1:1 time to connect.

If you have any questions, please contact us at marathonteam@bwh.harvard.edu.

From start to finish,

Ali, Ally, and Caroline

A Welcome message from The Reny Family

Dear 2024 Stepping Strong Marathon Team,

Hello from the Reny Family! We are so excited to officially welcome you to the 2024 Brigham Stepping Strong Marathon Team. We can’t wait to meet you in the months ahead at our team meetings, runs, gatherings and Marathon Weekend. We are so honored that you have all chosen to run and support The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation and the work we are doing to transform outcomes for trauma patients like our precious daughter, Gillian.

This year is especially meaningful as it marks 10 years since our family founded the Stepping Strong Center. We could never have imagined that in ten years we would grow from just 14 marathon runners to 140+ team members, opened a physical center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, funded 57 teams of physician-scientists, launched 3 educational fellowships to train the next generation of surgeons and care providers, started an injury prevention program, and raised more than $27 million! It is truly amazing—and proves that hope and goodness can emerge from even the most awful tragedy. We are also proud to say that we are already changing lives with Stepping Strong funded research. There are 33 individuals who have regained their mobility and are living their lives in ways that they never dreamed were possible thanks to our inaugural Stepping Strong Innovator, Dr. Matt Carty and his revolutionary Ewing/AMI Amputation procedure. Seven of these patients have participated on our Stepping Strong running teams, completing the B.A.A. 5K, Boston Marathon, B.A.A. 10K, and Falmouth Road Race.

We can’t wait to get to know you. The team is large, so it may take a while, but please know, it means so much to us to develop a friendship with each of you, so keep on introducing yourselves and reaching out. We hope to see many of you at the first team meeting THIS SATURDAY, November 4. We will also host small team gatherings in February and there will be other social events and surprises along the way that we hope will make your marathon experience extra special.

You are runners of all ages from across the globe with incredible personal stories that brought you to our team, and we are so inspired by each of you. With your gritty determination, you have made this year’s Stepping Strong team one of our best yet.  We are confident that if we all “Step Strong” together from now until April 15, everyone will cross their finish line with great pride in knowing that we have accomplished something extraordinary—as individuals and collectively for the benefit of others.

With heartfelt gratitude,  

Audrey, Steven, Danielle, Kyle, Gillian, and Matt

First Team Meeting is TOMORROW!

We are SO excited to see your smiling faces in-person and on Zoom tomorrow for our first team meeting! If you are unable to join us either way, no worries! We will email out the meeting PowerPoint link and will be happy to connect 1:1 with you.

In-Person Details

  • Where: Assembly Row, MGB Building, West Entrance, Markell Conference Room
  • Address: 399 Revolution Drive, Somerville, MA 02145
  • Parking: Is the responsibility of the runner. There is both on-street and garage parking (255 Grand Union Blvd) next to the building. The garage is free for the first 3 hours.
  • Agenda: 11am – 12:30pm: Mix/mingle/munch on some goodies! 12:30pm – 2:00pm: Meeting

Virtual Details (12:30pm – 2:00pm EST – please log into Zoom by 12:30pm for our team photo)

Exclusive Opportunity for Stepping Strong Swag

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to purchase Stepping Strong swag! You have until 11/17 at 5pm to make your purchases in time for the holidays!

  • Where: steppingstrong.mysuperiorstore.com/
  • Cost: $25 shirt / $40 pullover (Pieces are nonrefundable; cannot be exchanged)
  • Questions? Email Justin Nathan – jn@superiorpromo.net

Potentially Be Featured on B.A.A. Social Channels!

The B.A.A. loves charity runners and might want to feature you and your story on B.A.A. social channels! Consider clicking here to share your story with the B.A.A. and why you are running with the Brigham Stepping Strong Team.

If you have any questions, please contact us at marathonteam@bwh.harvard.edu.

From start to finish,

Ali, Ally, and Caroline

Marathon Team Update #1

Don’t forget! Our first team meeting is just over a week away on Saturday, November 4 from 11:00am – 2:00pm EST! We can’t wait to see you – details below and be sure to RSVP for the team meeting!

In-Person Details

  • Where: Assembly Row, MGB Building, West Entrance, Markell Conference Room
  • Address: 399 Revolution Drive, Somerville, MA 02145
  • Parking: Is the responsibility of the runner. There is both on-street and garage parking (255 Grand Union Blvd) next to the building. The garage is free for the first 3 hours.
  • Agenda: 11am – 12:30pm: Mix/mingle/munch on some goodies! 12:30pm – 2:00pm: Meeting

Virtual Details (12:30pm – 2:00pm EST – please log into Zoom by 12:30pm for our team photo)

SAVE the below cell phone numbers for both Ali and Ally! Feel free to text us your names so we have them before the first meeting! Alumni runners, please note these numbers are NEW and have changed since previous seasons.

  • Ali Luthman: 857 505 1225
  • Ally Hickey: 857 523 8052

Fundraising Tip of the Week

Are you familiar with #GivingTuesday? This year it’s on Tuesday, November 28, and it’s an extraordinary opportunity for donors to support their favorite charities. We’ll be encouraging you to do a BIG fundraising push via your TeamRaiser page, and fun prizes will be awarded! Start the planning process by building a list of potential supporters – the donor tracking excel is a great tool from the portal! Think through how you will ask for their support (i.e., email, phone call, written letter, social media, or a combination), and populate their contact information into the spreadsheet.

Reminder: Withdrawal Deadline

If your plans have changed and you no longer can run with us, please let us know ASAP. The final deadline to withdraw from the team is January 1, 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact us at marathonteam@bwh.harvard.edu.

From start to finish,

Ali. Ally and Caroline

Details and RSVP for our First Team Meeting!

Mark your calendar for our first team meeting on Saturday, November 4 from 11:00am – 2:00pm EST! We can’t wait to see you and congratulate you for already raising over $212,000 for The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at the Brigham – talk about hitting the ground running!

In-Person Details

  • Where: Assembly Row, MGB Building, West Entrance, Markell Conference Room
  • Address: 399 Revolution Drive, Somerville, MA 02145
  • Parking: Is the responsibility of the runner. There is both on-street and garage parking (255 Grand Union Blvd) next to the building. The garage is free for the first 3 hours.
  • Agenda: 11am – 12:30pm: Mix/mingle/munch on some goodies! 12:30pm – 2:00pm: Meeting

Virtual Details (12:30pm – 2:00pm EST – please log into Zoom by 12:30pm for our team photo)

Next Steps

  • RSVP for the team meeting
  • Can’t join us either way? No worries! We will email out the meeting PowerPoint link in the days following the meeting and will be happy to connect 1:1 with you.

Reminder: Withdrawal Deadline

If your plans have changed and you no longer can run with us, please let us know ASAP. The final deadline to withdraw from the team and not be held responsible for fundraising is January 1, 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact us at marathonteam@bwh.harvard.edu.

From start to finish,

Ali, Ally, and Caroline