Medford’s Deep Connection to the Marathon Tragedy

A flag flies at half mast outside of the Buddy Coholan Adult Day Health Center on Washington Street, which is around the corner from the Medford family home of Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old woman who was tragically killed at the Boston Marathon.

– Allison Goldsberry

Since 1988, Medford native Dave McGillivray, a lifelong runner, has been involved in organizing the Boston Marathon. McGillivray, who has run across the country for charity and has undergone countless other tests of endurance for philanthropic purposes, started his sports event management company in Medford in 1981. DMSE, as his company is known, has been involved in producing nearly 1,000 events and races world wide.

McGillivray is known for his passion and dedication, and all of the events produced by DMSE have a reputation for being well-organized and professionally managed. McGillivray has been the race director of the Boston Marathon since 2001, and every year, after the last runner crosses the finish line, McGillivray runs the 26.2 miles himself. He is also known for running his age in miles on his birthday, a tradition he started when he was twelve. In August 2008 I accompanied McGillivray as he ran 54 miles for his birthday in an effort that also raised over $1,000,000 for the Jimmy Fund.

McGillivray is one of the hardest-working and most passionate people I have ever met. He has spent his life being committed to the sport of running and to helping others. No doubt he is as devastated and shocked by the horrific and unimaginable tragedy that struck his marathon, OUR marathon, as everyone else. On that day, Medford lost one of its own, 29-year-old Krystle Campbell. Campbell grew up on the street next to mine, attended school with me, and was the little sister of my cousin’s best friend. Campbell has been remembered by loved ones and friends over the past few days for her kindness, generosity, and friendly spirit.

“Krystle was seldom caught not smiling, and not expressing her opinion,” said a statement posted on Facebook by Hordon Health. “She was beautiful, she was loud, and everyone loved her for it. Along with the million dollar smile came head to toe freckles and gorgeous bright red hair, connecting her Irish roots and kid-like manor; it was easy to feel ten years younger around her, no matter who you were. She had tremendous passion and energy, and Krystle attacked life with vigor and excitement.”

The marathon is also part of a special Tufts tradition. For the past eleven years, Tufts students, faculty, and alumni have run the marathon to raise money for nutrition, medical, and fitness programs. Former Tufts president Larry Bacow, himself a runner, started the tradition, and dozens of runners train together each year, and even more member of the Tufts community come together to volunteer for the marathon or to simply line the route to cheer on their fellow Jumbos.

Monday’s senseless and cruel attacks have hurt deeply, especially in Medford. The attacks go against everything the marathon stands for; its sportsmanship; its inclusiveness; its unique camaraderie. Nowhere else in the world is there a marathon where everyday people, running for a charitable cause, push themselves to the limit while elite athletes compete for the top prize, and where disabled athletes have a special place and are welcomed to compete with everyone else. Thousands of people run, and the route is kept open, thanks to McGillivray, until the last runner crosses the finish line, no matter how many hours after the race began. Thousands of people line all 26.2 miles and cheer their hearts out for family members, friends, and complete strangers. The Red Sox are always home, and the game time is coordinated with the marathon so even more people can join in cheering on the runners.

This is Boston’s 9/11, Medford’s 9/11, if such a crude analogy can be used. The marathon bombings have hit us far too close to home. Things will never be the same. However, we should remember the following, which Mayor Michael McGlynn has said and I will repeat:

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.