News
Two finish Boston Marathon despite COPD, asthma
BOSTON—The Boston Athletic Association held its 113th Boston Marathon Monday. Nearly 26,384 participants followed a point-to-point route from rural Hopkinton to Boston, a 26 mile, 385 yard distance.
And two of them did it with oxygen tanks and Inhalers.
In their 112 year history, the BAA has carried out a proud tradition of allowing people with disabilities to take part in one of three categories: Wheelchair Division, Mobility Impaired Program or Blind/Visually Impaired Division.
Michael McBride, 55 and Stephen Gaudet, 54, competed in the marathon’s Mobility Impaired division.
McBride has severe COPD and brought along his 80-pound oxygen cart, pushing it the entire length of the race. Gaudet has suffered from asthma his whole life, and needed his inhalers on the route.
The two finished the race together, in 7 and a half hours, qualifying them to race again next year.
