Greenwich’s Phoebe Yager Runs Boston Marathon for Kids with Cancer

This article was posted by Barbara Heins. It was reported and written by Leslie Yager.

I know Patch readers share my sadness and shock at the senseless deaths and injuries at the Boston Marathon on Monday. My sister, Phoebe Yager, a doctor at Mass General working in pediatric intensive care, is a longtime Greenwich girl who attended Glenville School and Greenwich Academy. She has run the marathon several years and this year was no different.

Phoebe returned to work Tuesday after running the marathon on Monday. She crossed the finish line two minutes before the explosions. Her husband Steve Schrodel and their boys Graham 6, and Miles 3, rooted for her about from mid-point in the marathon. They returned to their Lexington home safely after Phoebe telephoned them about the explosions.

Phoebe, 43, ran as part of the Mass General Marathon Team, Fighting Kids' Cancer...One Step at a Time to raise money to support pediatric cancer research and patient care programs at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) Cancer Center. It was her fifth Boston Marathon.

Phoebe said, "You run in a sea of runners, many running the race to raise money for causes, or to honor the memory of a sister, a mother or a child. It's so inclusive. There are runners who are blind. ... There were wheelchair racers and it was grueling for them going up the hills. There were members of the military with full backpacks on!"

She added, "And all along the way, the roads were lined for 26 miles with complete strangers. They were there just to support the runners. And they weren't there to cheer you to win. They're there in the cold, or heat, or rain to cheer you just to finish!" 

Phoebe went on to say, "I have to believe that the goodness of this day will prevail and it won't be erased by this attack. The Boston Marathon is unique. So many of the bib numbers are donated every year to runners from charities who raise money for great causes. Some good can still come out of this. It doesn't erase the horrible attack, but, for me, for 26.2 miles along the route all I saw was acts of generosity."

On a sad note, Phoebe said, "The last mile, mile 26, was dedicated to Newtown victims. There was a team running in their honor. Their mantra was '26 miles for 26'. And the Newtown families were guests invited to view from the grandstands by the finish line, which is where the bombs went off. I just felt so badly for them."

It occurred to me that Patch readers might like to take a look at Phoebe’s phoebe's crowdrise page. There is a photo slideshow and video on the crowdrise page.

Phoebe is at 89% of her goal of $6,000. It would be a shame if the efforts of people running for important causes like kids with cancer are overshadowed or forgotten. 

The marathon was about sense of community, positive spirit and humanity. All the runners worked so hard. Many ran to raise funds for great causes, which I applaud.

Plus, I’m really proud of my little sister.

Take a look at Phoebe’s photos and video on crowdrise. http://www.crowdrise.com/TeamMassGeneralHospital/fundraiser/phoebeyager/1/return/success/success

*Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct Yager's age, hometown and the number of Boston Marathons she has raced.