Nancy Burdick wraps herself with a space blanket after finishing the Boston Marathon last year.
Until last year, Nancy Burdick had never run a marathon, nor even thought about it as a long-term goal.
“It was not something that was on my radar,” Burdick said, adding that it was “not something that I’ve been incrementally working toward.”
Despite that, Burdick set a goal of running last year and made it across the finish line. This year, she’s decided to go after it again.
“Last year I survived and completed it. This time, I’d like to do it faster,” she said.
Burdick is hoping to use much of the knowledge she’s gained in the past year not only to finish the race, but also to complete it in 5 hours and 30 minutes, if possible. She says training this year has been easier and that she’s found advice through other runners and local running clubs.
She also mentioned a goal of exceeding her fundraising for the Hopkinton Emergency Fund, which awarded her its charity bib.
“I promised to exceed whatever they needed as their baseline entry and give it my best,” Burdick said.
The HEF is a nonprofit that seeks to “provide temporary emergency financial assistance to residents of Hopkinton through collaboration with existing local human services organizations,” according to its website. The organization partners with groups like Hopkinton Youth & Family Services, Project Just Because, the Hopkinton Senior Center and the St. Vincent de Paul Society to help individuals and families pay for critical needs.
Burdick noted that some of these town organizations sometimes do not have the means to provide direct assistance to a person or family because their emergency is a financial issue. The HEF acts as a “safety net” between these organizations, she explained.
The mission of HEF aligns with Burdick’s own values of philanthropy and community support. She compared it with her experience with the Letters Foundation — a charity established by Warren Buffett and his sister, Doris.
The charity replied to letters from people within the United States and offered one-time grants for hardship requests. Although it shut down in 2020, it awarded more than $10 million in grants during its operating years.
Burdick said that the HEF reminded her of the work she did at the Letters Foundation, and that the nonprofit was “helping provide what the other agencies in town can’t provide.”
She also noted that the charity connected with a number of other organizations she is involved with, making it a “perfect fund to support.”
Burdick’s fundraising goal for the HEF was set at $7,500. As of April 10, she had far exceeded that goal, reaching $11,723, according to her fundraising site. She credits her philanthropic community for getting her way past her goal — particularly her friends from the Letters Foundation.
“That kind of support is so heartwarming,” she said.
Community support and involvement is nothing new for Burdick. Her resume includes time with the School Committee and the Hopkinton Parent Teacher Organization, membership in the Marathon Quilters Guild, leadership roles with Hopkinton Scout troops, volunteering at St. John the Evangelist Parish and the St. Vincent de Paul Society, coaching multiple sports in town and more.
While she has stepped back some of her involvement in recent years, running the Boston Marathon is a way for Burdick to continue giving back.
“There are so many [charities] that are deserving of support in whatever way you can provide it,” said Burdick. “The marathon is a great opportunity for them to raise a significant amount of money.”
Nancy- Your passion and support is overwhelming
Thank you ( again) from the community and the HEF for your run!
Here’s to you