Virtual Boston Marathon raises more than $32M for charity

The virtual edition of this year’s race, pushing the event’s fundraising total since 1989 to more than $400 million

[Oct. 22, 2020: Associated Press]

Boston Marathon runners raised $32.1 million for charity in the virtual edition of this year’s race, pushing the event’s fundraising total since 1989 to more than $400 million, marathon organizers said Thursday.

The money will go to 242 different nonprofits through the charity programs of the Boston Athletic Association and John Hancock, the race’s top sponsor.

Last year’s race raised a record $38.7 million for charities. Organizers expected to surpass that before the marathon was shifted to a virtual event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.



Instead of 30,000 runners making the trek from Hopkinton to Boston in April, more than 16,000 people from all 50 states and 83 countries covered the required 26.2 miles in their own neighborhoods during a 10-day period in September, organizers said.

“Although this year’s race was different, runners came together to cross their own finish lines and collectively lift up each other and the nonprofits they represent,” John Hancock President and CEO Marianne Harrison said in a statement.

This Brighter Side of News post courtesy of AP News.

Tags: #APNews, #Boston, #Massachusetts, #Boston_Marathon, #GoodNews


Like these kind of stories? Get The Brighter Side of News' newsletter.




Joseph Shavit
Joseph ShavitSpace, Technology and Medical News Writer

Joseph Shavit
Head Science News Writer | Communicating Innovation & Discovery

Based in Los Angeles, Joseph Shavit is an accomplished science journalist, head science news writer and co-founder at The Brighter Side of News, where he translates cutting-edge discoveries into compelling stories for a broad audience. With a strong background spanning science, business, product management, media leadership, and entrepreneurship, Joseph brings a unique perspective to science communication. His expertise allows him to uncover the intersection of technological advancements and market potential, shedding light on how groundbreaking research evolves into transformative products and industries.