MetroWest YMCA Bestows Honors on Race Advocates During Marathon Community Breakfast
MetroWest YMCA honored three distinguished individuals for their contributions to the marathon community during its annual Marathon Community Breakfast, which was held Friday, March 14, at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center.
Among the honorees was Tim Kilduff, founder and president of the 26.2 Foundation and former Boston Marathon race director. Kilduff was honored with an Inspiration Award, recognizing his work that saved the event during a financial and operational crisis.
“There is no other marathon in the world that can take credit for being the most prominent and important marathon in the world other than the Olympic Marathon,” Kilduff said in remarks shared by MetroWest Daily News. “It’s in fact been a privilege to be associated with the Boston Marathon.”
Brendan Aylward and Jacob Wyman were honored with Inspiration Awards for their dedication to representing Team Hoyt. Team Hoyt celebrates the late Dick and Rick Hoyt, a father-and-son team who participated in more than 1,000 races — including the Boston Marathon, at 32 times — in a career that contributed to the foundation of Team Hoyt and its “Yes You Can” empowerment message.
Rick Hoyt, who died in May 2024 at age 61, was born with cerebral palsy and was quadriplegic. He first raced with his father in 1977. Both father and son competed in local races, marathons, triathlons, and a run across America in 1992. Dick Hoyt, Rick’s father, died in 2021 at age 80.
“Not only the opportunities that they created for me, for those like Jacob and I, but the example that they set and how they address barriers and opposition to inclusion,” Aylward said during his acceptance remarks. “I strive to be a relentless advocate for people with disabilities.”
During the breakfast, YMCA officials provided an update on the new Ashland YMCA building, which will serve Ashland, Framingham, Hopkinton, Holliston, Sherborn, and other communities. Groundbreaking is set for later this year. The new facility will be called the Team Hoyt Community YMCA.
