HFD Lt. John Krauss and his wife, Uxbridge firefighter Becky Krauss, are running the Boston Marathon in support of the Michael Lisnow Respite Center.

A Boston Marathon detail assignment six years ago for Hopkinton Fire Department Lt. John Krauss connected him with the Michael Lisnow Respite Center, forging a bond that inspired him and his wife to run the Boston Marathon in support of the center’s clients.

Krauss, an Uxbridge resident, began working for the department nearly seven years ago. His father’s career as an Uxbridge firefighter motivated him to follow him in his dad’s footsteps.

“It was sort of a natural career path for me because of my father,” he said. His wife, Becky, works in the Uxbridge Fire Department as a firefighter/EMT paramedic.

Six years ago, Krauss was assigned a Boston Marathon EMS detail for the Michael Lisnow Respite Center, a Hopkinton facility that has served hundreds of individuals with disabilities and their families for 26 years. This was his first experience learning about the center and its mission.

“They were holding a post-marathon event to thank all of the runners who ran on their behalf,” he explained. “It was their way of paying them back. Being there, I got to listen to everyone’s stories. It was inspirational to see all the love they had for each other.”

Krauss added that residents sang and performed a choreographed dance routine in honor of the runners.

“All I knew of the center initially was from the department’s response to calls,” he explained. “After that, I thought it was important to maintain a connection, and I have become close with several of the staff members.”

The center was started by Sharon Lisnow in honor of her son, Michael. Born 16 weeks premature, Michael, who was blind, lived for 10 years with cerebral palsy. The center is one of the Boston Marathon’s official charities.

In addition to his work duties, Krauss and his wife volunteer at the center “here and there,” he said.

“Sometimes I just stop by to say hello,” Krauss explained. “Other times, I will come by to show the young people a fire truck. They get really excited. It makes me happy to bring some light into their day.”

This past Halloween, Krauss invited clients to wear their costumes and tour the fire station to learn about the inner workings of the department.

“I think it’s important for the residents and staff to have a familiar face connected with the department to fall back on,” he explained. “It helps to lessen their anxiety during a dark time to already have a relationship with us, and it increases our rapport.”

He noted that he is “always a phone call away” if staff members need his advice on a situation, “and even just to say hello.”

Added Krauss: “I try to see the kids and residents as much as possible.”

This will be Krauss’s second Boston Marathon run. He first participated in 2021, when the event was moved to October because of pandemic concerns.

“When I was training, I tended to run on bike paths, which are pretty flat,” he said. “After experiencing the hills during the marathon, I knew this time to vary the type of terrain I train on.”

Three times a week, Krauss incorporates a variety of courses “of varying distances and complexities” into his marathon training runs.

This year, Becky told him she wanted to run on behalf of the Michael Lisnow Respite Center as well, so they will be participating together.

Previously, Krauss was honored by the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office for his role in helping to save the life of a missing Hopedale resident.

“I’m just happy to make a difference in the profession and on a personal level in the world,” said Krauss. “Developing that bond goes a long way, and shedding light on the the work there is important.”