The Hoyt Foundation April Newsletter

From the Office of the President

As you read this the 130th running of the Boston Marathon is only days away.  People often ask,  "What was your Dad’s favorite Boston Marathon?"  That is an easy answer – 2014.  It was the year after the bombings and he was proud to come back and honor his promise to Rick that they would prove just how strong Boston is.

People also often ask which was Rick’s favorite Boston Marathon.  Also an easy answer – 1993.  It was the year that Rick graduated from Boston University.  When he wrote on his computer about why the year was so meaningful to him, he would talk about how he was seen.  To Rick, he felt like people finally saw him, not just as an athlete being pushed by his father, but as a person who had completed his “educational marathon” as well. 

Recently someone asked me what is my favorite memory of Dad and Rick in the Boston Marathon, and it was again a very easy answer – 1986.  There was something about them that felt “right”.  I was lucky enough to drop them off in Hopkinton and get out in time to get back to Boston.  I was thinking as I was making my way back that this could be a special year.  While seated at the finish line, I got updates from family and friends  - tracking wasn’t a thing back then - and the man next to me spotted my Team Hoyt gear and asked, “Do you know the Hoyts?”  I explained that they were my father and brother.  He said, “Do you know this is the 6th year in a row they have run?”  I again explained, yes, they are my family.  He said, “Did you know they have started doing triathlons together?”  You get the idea...

The updates confirmed my initial thought as they were flying through the course.  I told my new friend that they would be coming soon and we would know.  He said, “No way, they are at least 20 more minutes out and how are you going to know they are close?”  I didn’t bother to remind him they were father and brother or explain the updates.  I told him when the crowd sees them, you will hear it.  He said, “What do you mean?”  I explained when they go by people say, “YESSSS, Team Hoyt, YESSSS” and the sound is just different.  We heard the change in the crowd noise and he leaned as far as he could and spotted them.  He yelled, “YESSSS, Team Hoyt, YESSSS”.  It was their fastest Boston ever, finishing in a time of 2:48:51.

That was 40 years ago.  I don’t know if any of our charity runners this year will be that fast, but I do know the crowd noise will still change every time they see one of our signature Tie Dye singlets fly by.  If you’re out there, listen – you will hear it.

Stories & Songs

The 26.2 Foundation hosted its 2nd Annual Stories and Songs event on April 2nd at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, helping to kick off Marathon Month in a truly meaningful way.

The evening brought together five speakers, each sharing a personal running journey - stories of perseverance, purpose, and connection - paired with live music that reflected their experiences. It was an uplifting and emotional reminder that running is about so much more than the miles; it’s about the stories we carry and the communities that shape us.

Each speaker reflected on how running has played a role in their lives, illustrating the power of the sport to heal, uplift, and empower. It was a celebration not just of running, but of the people and partnerships that make it so impactful.

We were especially proud to have a familiar connection to our community share the stage as a storyteller. As one of last year's speakers, Russ Hoyt had the opportunity to nominate one of this year's storytellers, a great friend of the Foundation: Mike DiDonato of Hoyt Running Chairs.

Mike shared his unlikely path into running (as a self-proclaimed "non-runner) and his partnership with athlete Kyle Brodeur, offering a powerful reflection on what inclusion truly means.

"The Boston Marathon wasn’t proof that I became something extraordinary. It was proof that when the right people are paired together, ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

It reminded me that inclusion isn’t about charity.
It’s about partnership.
It’s not about one person helping another.
It’s about choosing to move forward together.”

Mike’s words resonated deeply, reminding us that YES YOU CAN is not just “You can do it,” but  “We can do it together.”

Mike chose for the band to play Journey’s “Only The Young”, which was a favorite of the pair when they ran together and would elicit a huge THUMBS UP from Kyle when it came on.

Congratulations to the 26.2 Foundation on an evening filled with inspiration, music, and powerful storytelling.

Team Hoyt's 6-Star Finishers

With Boston Marathon right around the corner, April means we’re in full marathon mode here at Team Hoyt. As we get ready to cheer on our Boston runners, we also want to take a moment to recognize a few athletes who recently earned an important new piece of hardware – the Six Star Medal.

To earn a Six Star Medal, a runner must complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors: Boston, Chicago, New York City, Berlin, London, and Tokyo. It’s a lofty goal, requiring years of training, travel, and crossing multiple time zones along the way. We’re incredibly proud of these runners for earning such a meaningful place in the global running community.

At the end of 2025, there were only about 23,260 runners in the entire world who could say they had accomplished this feat.

This past March, three new names joined that exclusive group – and they’re names we know well here at Team Hoyt! Please join us in congratulating our Team Hoyt alumni: Kate Hehn (Boston 2024), Andrea McCollem (Boston 2024), and Zdeno Chara (Boston 2023).

These three athletes have carried the YES YOU CAN message across six of the world’s greatest stages – and now they carry the medal to prove it.

Cheers to you Kate, Andrea, and Zdeno! We like to think your running journeys were sparked here with Team Hoyt and helped carry you across many more miles.

Dick & Rick's Legacy Learned in the Classroom

We recently received a letter from an elementary school teacher in California that reminded us that the Hoyt legacy reaches far beyond the race course.

Melissa Minahan’s 5th grade class spent time learning about Dick and Rick, reading articles, watching videos, and reflecting on the significance of their story. As a culminating assignment, students wrote letters to the Hoyt Foundation sharing what they learned and how the story impacted them. Their words were honest and thoughtful, and we’re excited to share a few excerpts that stood out.

One student spoke to the idea that, no matter the circumstance, you can be successful:

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Another shared how the story encouraged him to keep trying and how powerful the YES YOU CAN message can be at any age:

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One connected the story to her own experience, sharing that she has ADHD and Rick’s experience made her feel more understood and included:

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This last student's words captured something we’re reminded of time and again, pointing to a simple but foundational truth for Team Hoyt and the Hoyt Foundation. That is, if Rick had never asked to join that first race with his dad, the story we know today may never have unfolded:

That simple act – asking – is at the heart of all that we do. When individuals with disabilities and their families feel empowered to ask, “Can we do this?”, it opens the door to possibility and often becomes the first step toward participation, connection, and belonging.

We’re grateful to these 5th graders for taking the time to learn, reflect, and share their voices. It’s encouraging to see how the legacy of Dick and Rick continues to shape how the next generation understands inclusion – and their place within it.

Team Hoyt Taper:
Thanks to our Sponsors, Participants & Volunteers!

On Saturday April 11th, 2026 the Team Hoyt Taper ran smooth as silk!  We welcomed 400+ runners, walkers, and rollers and Mother Nature delivered a sunny day and perfect temperatures. 

From competitive runners taking on the challenge of 'Hoytbreak Hill' to families walking, running, and rolling together, the YES YOU CAN spirit was on full display all morning long reflecting what this community is all about:  bringing people of all abilities together.

We're incredibly thankful to our wonderful and supportive sponsors who were a key to our success. Thank you for helping to make this day possible.

Covering roles at registration, on course, at the finish, and everything in between, our many volunteers that worked tirelessly throughout the morning and afternoon were another huge reason the event was executed so well. 

Adaptx Opportunity:
Duo Running Chair Grant

Ready to help someone get out on the course? Grant applications are now open through AdaptX for two duo running chairs!

We’re proud to partner with AdaptX, their community of generous donors, and Hoyt Running Chairs to help make this opportunity possible – providing access to adaptive equipment for individuals and families who want to experience the joy of running together.

For anyone in our community who may have missed The Hoyt Foundation’s YES YOU CAN Inclusion Grant cycle, this is a great opportunity to apply on behalf of someone in your life who would benefit from a duo chair.

Thanks to the generosity of the AdaptX donor community – including last year's recipient Mark Hulsey – these grants will help open the door to participation, connection, and the shared experience of racing side by side.

Making New Connections

Team Hoyt recently participated as an exhibitor at the Business Expo hosted by the Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber MetroWest on April 14th. The event offered the opportunity to network with local businesses and entrepreneurs in the MetroWest region and educate others on the mission and work of the Hoyt Foundation.

We made a number of new connections, some of whom remembered Dick and Rick from their competitive racing days on the Boston Marathon course and at the Falmouth Road Race. 

Congrats to Patrick O'Hara from Country Bank who won our raffle for a limited-edition Team Hoyt windbreaker!

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