On Monday, April 21, Holliston brothers Brendan, Matt and Chris O’Connell, and their mother, Joanne, also of Holliston, will run the iconic Boston Marathon route in memory and in honor of their brother Tim O’Connell.  Tim died of acute myeloid leukemia in 2008, just 2 days after he turned 10 years old.  This will be Brendan’s second marathon and Joanne’s eleventh marathon, the tenth time she will be running the Boston Marathon.  This will be the first marathon for Matt and Chris.  All of them will run for The Timothy O’Connell Foundation, a local charity dedicated to fighting pediatric cancers.

According to Joanne, “We are just weeks away from the 2025 Boston Marathon!  This year is a very special year for us - Brendan, Matt, Chris, and I were all incredibly fortunate to get Marathon bibs!  We will all begin the Marathon together in Hopkinton - but I think they will finish long before I do!  As always, Kevin will support us as we make the 26.2 mile run.  Kevin and I could not be more proud of our boys-- our young men-- and that they have chosen to honor Tim in this very special way.”  

In addition, Claire Picard and Brandon Murphy will be running for Tim’s Team.  Claire is a dear O’Connell family friend.  Claire retired from the Holliston Public Schools last spring, after many years of teaching third grade in the French Immersion Program.  She has taught and mentored all four of the O’Connell boys in French.  Claire was Tim’s tutor during his 3rd grade year and went to the family’s house many times a week.  Tim and Claire shared an amazing relationship and Tim inspired Claire to become the great runner she is today.  Claire’s husband, Allan, and her two sons, Philip and Matthew, have run the Boston Marathon for Tim’s Team.  

Brandon Murphy is a wonderful young man from Bellingham.  He is a life-long runner.  Brandon has heard about Tim and his lasting legacy of goodness from his uncle, aunt, and cousins from Holliston, the Annese Family.  Brandon has always been inspired by the stories about Tim as the family feasted on Timmy Cake each Christmas.  Brandon is happy to be running this year’s Marathon along with his mother, Cindy.

You can support the runners of Tim’s Team by visiting https://timsteam.org/event-boston-marathon or scanning the QR Code in this article.  There you will find bios of each runner and links to their individual fundraising pages.  As Joanne stresses, “All dollars donated make a difference.  The Timothy O’Connell Foundation donates all money raised to cancer-related causes, fulfilling the mission of the Foundation.”  As in past years, Tim’s Team will be wearing very bright orange “I’m on Tim’s Team” shirts while running on Marathon Day.  Joanne says, “We wear orange for two reasons - it is the color of Leukemia Awareness AND it is Timmy’s favorite color!  Please look for us on the route!”

Following Tim’s specific wishes, the Foundation continues its support of Make-A-Wish.  Tim and his family experienced the joy of a Make-A-Wish trip in December of 2007, to Disney World.  Also following Tim’s specific wishes, the Foundation supports the Just For Sibs Program at Children’s Hospital Boston.  The Just For Sibs Program supported Tim’s brothers - Brendan, Matt, and Chris - during Tim’s illness.  “Tim understood the great impact of that support for his brothers and for the siblings of other sick children,” says Joanne.  “There was nothing more important to Timmy than his brothers.”

The Foundation also continues its financial support of a research project named for Tim at the University of Minnesota.  Tim’s oncologist at Children’s Hospital Boston, Doctor Peter Gordon, is now at the University of Minnesota.  He is studying the FLT-3 mutation that so impacted the course of Tim’s cancer.  In addition, The Foundation continues to support the National Bone Marrow Donor Program, as well.  Tim was the recipient of an almost perfectly matched bone marrow donation from a stranger.     

The Foundation takes great pride in its Scholarship Program.  To date, nearly $165,000 has been donated to Holliston high school students who plan to study in health-related fields.  “We are thrilled to help students become doctors, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, pharmacists, researchers, and other caregivers.  It is an honor to be able to give back to our supportive community in this way,” says Joanne.

The Timothy O’Connell Foundation has raised more than $1.35 million dollars over the last 16 years, all of which has gone directly to support the Foundation’s goals.  Please consider helping further the mission of the Foundation by making a donation in support of this year’s Marathoners.