My name is Sean Duggan
Growing up in the Boston area, I was always intrigued and amazed by the Boston Marathon and the people who endured the 26.2 miles. This year I will turn forty and decided to run the marathon with my good friend Matt McGonagle. We have been training with the L Street Runner's since the New Year and completed our twenty-mile training run from Hopkinton over Heartbreak Hill to Boston College this past weekend.
While training, I decided that I wanted to dedicate my long hours and miles of training to a good cause and someone dear. That is when I contacted the Connolly/McHugh family and asked if I could run the Marathon in Maureen's memory and to raise money for MS in the memory of her life and spirit.
Maureen Connolly was born on April 2, 1971. She was the youngest of three children to Michael and Trudy Connolly. She grew up in Watertown, Massachusetts. She passed away on May 26, 2008. She was only 37 years old.
Maureen battled with MS for the last 10 years but it took a huge toll on her the last year and a half of her life. Maureen fought through the pain and tried to get better but in the end her body was not willing.
She lived a full life for someone who left this world at such a young age. She saw more of the world than most people twice her age have. Adventures, new experiences and new friends were Maureen’s way of living life. She loved music and her favorite band was U2, so much so that she saw them over 50 times. She actually traveled to Ireland on numerous occasions just to see them. Maureen also loved to travel; she had seen much of the US, Europe, South America and the Caribbean. People often joked her favorite things in life were all-inclusive resorts, U2, Hello Kitty and small dogs.
Her energy and love of life was boundless.
As the years and disease moved on, Maureen was getting worse. She went from being a very independent person to someone who now required the assistance of others to get by. Maureen eventually moved back in with her parents in March of 2007. Mike and Trudy did everything they could to help their daughter to get better, but week-by-week she got worse. At first it was headaches and numbness, then it moved on to trouble holding things. In a matter of months Maureen found herself needing a walker and then a wheelchair. Finally in February of 2008 Maureen found herself in a rehabilitation home, her condition had progressed to the point where her parents could no longer care for her. She lost movement in most of her body and talking became very difficult for her, and her condition got worse even still. Her last few months were filled with more pain and disappointment than anyone should have to endure, especially someone as kind and gentile as Maureen.
Maureen’s family said good-bye to her on May 25, 2008. Her body was failing. She knew that this was her last night on Earth. She went to sleep that night and never woke up. She died in the morning on May 26, 2008 surrounded by her friends and family.
Maureen gave everything of herself to her friends and family because that was the kind of person she was. Maureen touched many people’s lives in one way or the other. She always went out of her way to help people in need. She was was very generous and always had a smile on her face. Her beautiful smile could light up a room and make you feel welcomed.
Maureen wanted people to remember her the way that she was, so outgoing and full of life.
Maureen left behind her parents, a sister, a niece, a niece that Maureen and I are godparents to, and many friends who miss her very much and are reminded each day that she is missing from their lives.
Maureen was a winner in the race of life, and though I will not win the Marathon, I am a winner for having the opportunity to run it in her name and for a great cause.
I thank you for you support.