This is the second in-person Boston Marathon for Colin’s Joy Project; they geared up to run their first in 2019 and were looking forward to the second when the Covid-19 pandemic put everything on hold. There were 20 members of Team Colin 2020, and several did complete the virtual marathon and still hit their fundraising goals. Now Team Colin 2021 is back and stronger than ever, ready to cross the finish line for the second marathon in Colin’s name this October 11th!
Some of the team members are repeat marathon runners and for some, this will be their first 26.2 miles, but what they all have in common is their love for Colin, for the McGrath family, and for the South Boston Community. Read on to get to know some of these outstanding athletes!
Kerri McGrath
Bib number: 18264
Boston, MA
2nd Marathon (but trained for 3!)
Brendan McGrath
Bib number: 18525
Boston, MA
1st Marathon (but trained for 2!)
Kerri says she is running the 2021 Boston Marathon because: “I ran for Team Colin in 2019 to go out there and defy my anger, grief, resentment, and overwhelming sadness. Training for that marathon did that for me and built community along the way, but running that marathon left me feeling empty as if no physical feat I could accomplish would ever fill the void that was left when Colin died. Between then and now, I have worked hard on learning how to live a life with my grief as opposed to pushing it out. This marathon is less about my grief and more about the legacy we are building for Colin with every mile we run. I was ready to do this in 2020, and then the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. I went from running 22 miles freely around our city to being afraid to leave my house without a mask. As a physician, my days were completely consumed with COVID-19 work, and I had little to no time for exercise. Slowly, as the surge lifted, I began to find time to exercise again and devoted myself to being physically able to run Boston 2021.”
Brendan’s motivation comes from a place of gratitude for all that others have given to Colin’s Joy Project, and the McGrath family. Inspired by the support of others, Brendan sees this experience as a way to further connect with the meaning and purpose behind the work of Colin’s Joy Project, and those who have helped the McGrath family along the way. While he does not consider himself a runner, this training experience was a growth opportunity for Brendan that he has valued tremendously.
Being a part of Team Colin means everything to Kerri and Brendan. “Every dollar this team raises, every mile this team runs, every bit of awareness we raise - we are building Colin’s legacy and bringing joy to families. Each runner is raising enough money to sponsor reading programs for families throughout a community; or playgroup, support programs, or play spaces for families. We cannot be Colin’s parents every day in the way we sought out to be, but we can be through the work of this organization and the work we put into Team Colin. That makes all the stress, hard work, and pain worth every minute.
Zach Williams
Bib number: 18197
Crofton, MD
2nd Marathon
Zach is Kerri’s cousin, and he says “there was never a question in my mind on what my answer would be if Kerri asked me to run Boston. When someone asks you to run the Boston Marathon AND you get to raise for Colin’s Joy Project, it is an easy answer.”
“Kerri and Brendan are some of the most remarkable people I know. For those who know them personally, you know they pour their heart and soul into everything they do, and that shows in the success they have had so far with Colin’s Joy Project. If you want to be part of something great, you answer when Kerri calls.”
According to Zach, this will be his second marathon. He says that “the running is hard, and the fundraising sometimes harder. It is difficult for me to think about what my family has been through after Colin’s tragedy. Their response to the loss of Colin is nothing short of extraordinary. Thinking of them quickly makes you realize running a marathon is easy compared to what they have had to endure. The word “cousin” in our family might as well be brother or sister, and I would do anything for them.”
“Colin could brighten anyone’s day with his laugh and positive attitude. The long runs become a little easier when you think of his million-dollar smile and the love he had for his parents and his sister Sloane. The Boston community has shown its true colors with its outpouring of support for my family since the accident. I have never seen anything like it. I want to do nothing more than to help give back to these wonderful people and their community by running and supporting Colin’s Joy Project.”
Devin Quirk
Bib number: 4165
Boston, MA
2nd Marathon
Devin’s wife Michelle works with Kerri, and so Devin is running this year’s marathon to support their friend and her family. Devin says that “as a lifelong runner living in Boston, it’s an awesome experience to run one of the world’s greatest running events right in my backyard through the city that I love. The last time I ran the marathon, I met my goal of breaking 3 hours (but just barely, I ran 2:59:41!), so this time the pressure is off and I’d love to just enjoy the experience in the last few miles a bit more.”
“I’m running for Colin’s Joy Project to both honor Colin’s memory and contribute to Colin’s Joy Project’s inspiring mission of improving playspaces and programming for children in Boston.” In addition to supporting CJP and the McGrath family, Devin and Michelle are the parents of young children and thus are able see firsthand how Colin’s Joy Project is bringing joy to kids in the community.
Bob Lydon
Bib number: 18862
Walpole, MA
1st Marathon
As a friend to the McGrath family, and also as a father of three, Colin's Joy Project is close to Bob’s heart. Bob says that CJP is “an amazing charity, and <he> is glad to be a small part of the team to help raise funds for such an amazing family.” Bob is running the marathon with his brother Matt (featured below) and he says he can’t wait to get out there and run in the best marathon in the world for a great cause.
Matthew Lydon
Bib number: 19247
Boston, MA
3rd Marathon (but first in Boston!)
Matthew is also a good friend to the McGrath family, and he’s looking forward to running his third marathon this year! His first was at Disney World in 2007 and then NYC in 2011. This will be his first Boston Marathon, but he grew up going to Marathon Monday and cheering on the runners. He says “it's always been a personal goal of mine to make that turn onto Boylston St and finish Boston. Having completed most of the training for 2020 before the race was canceled, I needed to finish the job this year.”
Matthew is “inspired by the way <the McGrath family> turned their family's tragedy into a positive for their community. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to represent Colin's Joy Project and honor Colin's memory by contributing to their mission.
Daniel McLaughlin Jr
Bib number: 18636
Salem, NH
1st Marathon
Danny has been a friend of Brendan McGrath for close to 20 years. When Brendan told Dannyl that he was planning to run the 2020 Boston Marathon, Danny says he wanted to do it with him “so he knew he wasn’t at this alone. Not just for the marathon, but in life in general.”
Danny doesn’t consider himself a runner, and prior to signing up for the marathon, “the most miles <he> had run in the past was maybe 4! The time and dedication to be able to ramp up to be prepared to run 26.2 and raise money for CJP is a way for <he and his family> to support the McGrath family & Colin’s Legacy.”
He goes on to say that “Colin was a great boy who is deeply missed every day. Colin’s Joy Project is a means for Colin’s legacy to live through new play spaces that will bring joy to kids.”
He’d also like to send out a huge THANK YOU to all the people who have supported him, especially “my Wife (Danielle) and kids (Drew 4 and Annabelle 2) for the mental, physical, and home support to be prepared for Oct 11th!”
Leah Murphy
Bib Number: 18829
Boston, MA
8th Marathon
Leah is originally from Canada but her husband is from South Boston so they are currently raising their three children in Southie. This will be her (very impressive) 8th marathon, and she says that after the past year and a half, it’s so nice to have the opportunity to run the 125th Boston Marathon.
Leah first met Kerri when they were both training for the marathon in 2019, and their lives have intersected in numerous ways since. Leah says that Colin’s Joy Project is incredibly dear to her heart; they do “such wonderful things in our community, and they do an amazing job remembering the joy that Colin brought to this world. It’s truly an honor to run in support of this incredible charity.”
Emily Andrew
Bib number: 18300
Raleigh, NC
1st Marathon
Emily is a native of Southie and, inspired by the strength of the McGrath family, reached out to Kerri to let her know she’d like to be a part of the marathon team if they ever had an open spot. She was pleasantly surprised to hear back from Kerri personally, and now she’s a proud member of Team Colin 2021!
Emily is running this year’s Boston Marathon in order to help grow Colin’s Joy Project so they can continue their mission to build and support programs in the community.
She says that “being a part of Team Colin has been such an honor so far! The strength of the McGrath family is truly inspiring. Running the marathon is just one small thing that I can do to spread Colin’s joy!”
To make a donation to Team Colin, you can check out our donation page or the Go Fund Me page! Use the Boston Marathon app to track runners the day of, or visit the BAA website the day of.