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In This Issue:
Lorelei Dwyer, RN, a night-shift nurse on 10 CD and mother of four, loves her job and her family, but never shared the same passion for fitness or sports. That was before. Now, Dwyer, who in college could only run about a half-mile before quitting, is soon to become a two-time Boston Marathoner.
“A nursing colleague of mine challenged me to run the Boston Marathon two years ago,” described Dwyer. “I agreed, but her challenge did not drive my decision. When I said ‘yes,’ I was testing myself.”
Dwyer has always been proud of her work, and is most proud of her four children. However, deep-down, she was looking for a way to validate her strength, both physically and mentally. “I reached a point in my life where I wanted to push my boundaries and test my courage,” she said.
Self-determination fueled Dwyer’s decision to enter the 2001 Boston Marathon. A little bit of luck, earning her a number only three weeks before Marathon Monday, helped along the way. But Dwyer was searching for more motivation. After she and her husband lost his mother to cancer, clarity was gained, along with greater ambition – she would run to raise money for cancer prevention.
By running in her mother-in-law’s honor, Dwyer felt as if she was giving back. “So many people made sacrifices for me when I started my training regimen. My family was extremely supportive and selfless, especially when I gave up on doing the laundry and we started ordering out a lot,” she described with a laugh.
The day before the 2001 Marathon, Dwyer promised herself she would never run another marathon again. Twenty-six miles and a finish line later, Dwyer’s pre-race nerves were transformed into an adrenaline rush that lasted months. Fortunate for Team Brigham, her runner’s high has not waned since. And, if history repeats itself, on April 16, Team Brigham will likely have a two-time runner on their roster for 2003.
To make a donation online to support Dwyer or other members of Team Brigham:
Visit (https://www.brighamandwomens.org/forms/donationform.asp), click on “Making a single donation,” then “Other” and write in the runner’s name along with the phrase “Marathon Program 2002.” Employees are encouraged to their time to assist with logistics the day of the marathon. To find our more about volunteer opportunities, contact Linda Werman at 781-297-7250 or lwerman@attbi.com