Ever since I first started running in high school, it has been my aspiration to take part in one of the most celebrated races in the country: the Boston Marathon. Fortunately, the Harvard College Marathon Challenge has granted me an incredible opportunity, and I am now one step closer to turning my dream into a reality. Ten Harvard University runners, myself included, have earned invitational charity entries to the 114th running of the Boston Marathon, and on April 14, 2010 we’ll all be running the marathon in the name of our on-campus charity.

The Phillips Brook House Association is a non-profit, student-run charity responsible for over seventy different programs benefitting communities throughout the Greater Boston area. The Phillips Brook House Association, or PBHA, boasts the largest student involvement of any group on campus. PBHA holds a special personal connection, and through PBHA I am able to volunteer my time as a certified CPR instructor, teaching life-saving skills to people in Cambridge and surrounding communities. Since the creation of the Harvard College Marathon Challenge in 2005, Harvard runners have raised over $160,000 in support of the Phillips Brook House Association, and we hope to continue to serve this organization that has positively impacted the lives of so many people.

My training for this 26.2-mile race is already underway, and you can read all about my training at a blog I've started at http://chrismarathonblog.blogspot.com/. But I’ll need your help if I’m to reach my fundraising goal of $2,000. If you think you’d like to support me, you can follow the instructions below to donate directly through this website. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to our fundraising efforts.

Many thanks for all your help -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too! For more information about my charity, please visit the Harvard College Marathon Challenge website. Thanks for stopping by my website, and be sure to visit again soon to see how close I am to reaching both my fundraising and training goals!