Dave McGillivray
Marks 35th Anniversary of Arrival into Fenway Park after Historic
Cross-County Run for Jimmy Fund
McGillivrayÛªs heroic
effort sparked movement combining endurance sports and philanthropy
BOSTON
(August
29, 2013)
ÛÒ Today marks the 35th anniversary of Dave McGillivrayÛªs historic
arrival into Fenway Park after running across the United States ÛÒ from Medford,
Oregon to Medford, Mass. ÛÒ to raise money for the Jimmy Fund cancer
charity.
ÛÏItÛªs hard to imagine
it was that long ago, seems like just the other day,Û McGillivray said. ÛÏAt age
23, I guess running 45 to 50 miles a day seemed like a piece of cake. Now
that IÛªm 59, I get tired just driving that distance. Oh, to be young again!Û
McGillivray
gained national prominence with his 1978 cross country run that took 80 days
and raised almost $150,000 for the Jimmy Fund ÛÒ the first money any runner ever
raised for a cancer charity, according to RunnerÛªs World Magazine.
The
Medford native covered 3,452 miles through 11 states, averaging 45 miles per
day. He reached Boston on August 29, 1978 and ran two victory laps around the
warning track at Fenway Park to a standing ovation before the start of a Red
Sox-Mariners game. McGillivray appeared on ABCÛªs Good Morning America
the next day and was profiled in national magazines. His feat is credited with
helping connect endurance sports and philanthropy.
McGillivray,
who a few years later founded Dave McGillivray Sports Enterprises, DMSE Inc., a road race
management firm that directs more than 30 events per year, is also the race
director of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon. He has completed a number of similar
feats of endurance since his groundbreaking cross country trek, including a
second cross-country run in 2004 from San Francisco to Boston as part of TREK
USA, a relay team event that raised more than $300,000 for five childrenÛªs
charities.
McGillivray also has run 128 marathons,
completed eight Hawaii Ironman Triathlons, run up the East Coast of the U.S.,
run 120 miles in 24 hours, biked for 24 hours and swam for 24 hours ÛÒ all to
raise money for numerous worthwhile causes. He along with all the events he has
directed have helped raised $100 million for charity over the years.
Even
at age 59, he is still at it, recently completing his annual birthday run of 59
miles (he started running his birthday age in miles at age 12), and running the
Boston Marathon course for the 41st time 11 days after this yearÛªs
April 15 marathon.
McGillivray, who lives in North Andover, Mass., recently recounted
the events of this yearÛªs marathon on an extended WEII interview and is also a guest
on WROR today.
ÛÏIt was a tragic day but it was also a day
that renewed my faith in mankind – to see how the volunteers jumped into action
and ran toward the blasts was heartening,Û McGillivray said. ÛÏIt renewed my
faith in Boston, the marathon and people in general.Û
McGillivray is a pioneer in what is now one
of the most important aspects of the athletic industry ÛÒ combining athletics
with philanthropy. Nearly every DMSE-led or DMSE-owned event combines
fitness and fundraising, giving back to the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute, ChildrenÛªs Hospital, Lazarus House and many others charities and
non-profit organizations in New England and across the country.
About DMSE Sports
Founded by McGillivray in 1981, DMSE Sports
is a leader in sports event management, specializing in creating, marketing and
producing mass participatory athletic events throughout the U.S. and abroad. In
addition to the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, DMSE manages more than 30 major road
races per year, including the TD Beach to Beacon in Maine, the New Balance
Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod, the Finish at the 50 at Patriot Place, Run for
the Dream in Williamsburg, Va., the Bellin Run in Green Bay, Wis., the Feaster
Five Thanksgiving Day Run and the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, among
others. For more info, visit www.dmsesports.com.