SPENDING THE LAST THIS MORNING ON THIS MORNING ON NBC FIVE IN DEPTH. THE DAY BEFORE THE 128TH BOSTON MARATHON IN HUNDREDS FROM OUR REGION, SPENDING THE LAST FEW MONTHS TRAINING IN THE COLD FOR THE HISTORIC RACE. HERE WE GO. AN INSIDE LOOK INTO WHAT IT TAKES TO TRAIN FOR THE WORLD’S OLDEST ANNUAL MARATHON AND YOU MAY FEEL THE BEST YOU FEEL TODAY THAN YOU WOULD TOMORROW. SO JUST DON’T WAIT AND DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE THERE. INSPIRING STORIES BEHIND 26.2 MILES. WHY ONE ESSEX WOMAN SAYS THIS RACE IS AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME. PLUS CHANGES TO THE COURSE. THE NEW MEASURES OUR RUNNERS CAN EXPECT TO SEE THIS YEAR AS THEY PROUDLY REPRESENT THEIR HOMETOWN IN THE BIG CITY OF BOSTON. WE’RE ALL IN OUR LITTLE CORNERS OF THE WORLD AND WE GO MEET IN THE BIG CITY AND AND GO PLAY ALL OF THIS AND MORE RIGHT HERE ON NBC. FIVE IN DEPTH. GOOD MORNING. I’M LAUREN GRANADA AND THIS IS NBC FIVE IN-DEPTH. 33,058 ATHLETES QUALIFIED FOR THE 2024 BOSTON MARATHON. IN OVER 200 OF THEM WILL REPRESENT OUR REGION AT THE HISTORIC RACE. 193 OF THOSE RUNNERS WILL REPRESENT THE GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE AND TEN FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY. NBC FIVE’S ERIC KERR SPOKE WITH A HANDFUL OF THEM, ALL FROM THE SAME VILLAGE, ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO REPRESENT THEIR HOMETOWN ON RACE DAY. THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE OF LAKE PLACID IS HOME TO SOME OF THE TOP WINTER ATHLETES IN AMERICA. THIS YEAR, IT’S FIELDING A GROUP OF LONG DISTANCE RUNNERS FOR THE BOSTON MARATHON. IT’S AWESOME. YEAH, WE’RE ALL IN OUR LITTLE CORNERS OF THE WORLD, AND WE GO MEET IN THE BIG CITY AND AND GO PLAY. ELIZABETH IZZO IS TRAINING ON THE HILLY TERRAIN OF HER HOMETOWN AND ALSO IS TRAINING AT SUNRISE AT THE US OVAL IN THE LAKE CITY BEFORE SHE STARTS WORK AT CVPH IN PLATTSBURGH. MY GOAL IS TO SEE HOW CLOSE I CAN GET TO THREE. FLAT TIME GOALS ARE ONE THING. OTHER GOALS ARE, YOU KNOW, FUEL WELL. HAVE FUN AND DON’T BONK. YOU KNOW, PACE YOURSELF OFF. ENJOY THE MOMENT. IN 2023, IZZO WAS THE YOUNGEST LAKE PLACID RUNNER IN BOSTON, BUT THIS YEAR, THAT TITLE GOES TO NINA ARMSTRONG. SHE’S TAKING PART IN HER FIRST MARATHON IN BEANTOWN, BUT SHE’S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY. SHE WENT TO HARVARD, WHERE SHE WAS THE CROSS COUNTRY SKIER FOR CROSS COUNTRY SKIING. LIKE YOU ALWAYS RAN FOR CROSS TRAINING AND FOR CROSS COUNTRY SKIING. YOU’RE ALSO DOING LIKE A TON OF IT’S A LOT OF AN ENDURANCE SPORT. SO IT WAS KIND OF A NATURAL LIKE TRANSITION. ARMSTRONG AND IZZO HAVE YOUNG LEGS, BUT ARE LOOKING TO CATCH THE EXPERIENCE OF DARCY AND BILL WHITNEY. THE COUPLE SHARES OVER 20 YEARS OF BOSTON MARATHON RACES BETWEEN THE TWO. I JUST LOVE BEING THERE AND IT’S FUNNY WHEN WE GO TO VISIT, UM, OR GO FOR TRAINING RUNS ON THE COURSE, INEVITABLY WE SEE PEOPLE THAT WE’VE MET OVER ALL OF THESE YEARS. I AM LIKE, GRATEFUL TO BE DOING THIS AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE, OR EVEN HAVING HAD BEEN ABLE TO DO IT ONCE, YOU KNOW, LET ALONE TO KEEP GOING BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR, YOU KNOW, AND, AND AND CONTINUE TO DO IT. JOANIE GURKIN MAKES THE TOTAL OF FIVE RUNNERS FROM ONE TOWN COMING TOGETHER. WE’RE SUCH A SMALL TOWN, BUT LIKE, WE REALLY GET OUT THERE AND LIKE PEOPLE, PEOPLE RECOGNIZE IT. AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO REPRESENT LAKE PLACID, REPRESENTING THEIR SMALL TOWN IN THE BIG CITY IN LAKE PLACID. ERIC KERR NBC FIVE NEWS. THE HAND CYCLIST DIVISION IS NEARING 100 PARTICIPANTS. ONE OF OUR OWN LOCAL ATHLETES IS AN ACCOMPLISHED RACER IN THE SPORT. WELLS DEVIN MURPHY IS GETTING READY FOR HER SEVENTH BOSTON MARATHON. THE WOMEN’S HAND CYCLIST IS A GOLD MEDALIST FOR SIX OF THE 25 DIFFERENT RACES. SHE’S DONE, BUT BOSTON STILL HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HER HEART. AFTER SHE MADE FREQUENT TRIPS TO THE CITY HOSPITALS TO TREAT OSTEOSARCOMA, A TYPE OF BONE CANCER, IN HER LEGS. BOSTON IS HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE CITY ON THE PLANET, SO ANYTIME I GET TO GO THERE, IT’S A GOOD DAY. BUT I MEAN, IF YOU GET TO GO TO THE PLACE YOU LOVE AND DO SOMETHING AND YOU REALLY ENJOY, IT’S JUST IT’S FANTASTIC. IT’S OUR FIRST FEMALE HANDSOME. MURPHY TOOK THE GOLD MEDAL IN BOSTON FOR THE WOMEN’S HAND CYCLE DIVISION BACK IN 2019. SHE SAYS THIS YEAR HER GOAL IS TO IMPROVE AND COMPETE AGAINST HERSELF FOR A NEW PERSONAL BEST AND THE RACE HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE YEARS, BOTH IN NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AND DIVISIONS. IN 1972, THE FIRST YEAR WOMEN WERE OFFICIALLY ALLOWED TO RUN, JUST NINE ENTERED THE RACE. ACCORDING TO THE BAR, JUST FIVE YEARS LATER, THAT NUMBER GREW 15 FOLD, AND BY 2021, NEARLY 16,000 WOMEN ENTERED THE RACE. THIS MARATHON IS ALSO THE MOST INCLUSIVE YET. IN ITS SECOND YEAR OF EXISTENCE, THE NONBINARY DIVISION HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN SIZE, AND LAST YEAR’S CHAMPION, A RUNNER FROM OUR REGION, WILL BE REPRESENTING VERMONT ONCE AGAIN. NBC FIVE’S NOAH SAZON CAUGHT UP WITH RAVICHANDRAN, THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT MEDICAL STUDENT, PIONEERING INCLUSION IN THE SPORT, ON HOW THEY HOPE TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE. JUST A YEAR AFTER MAKING HISTORY AS THE FIRST EVER WINNER OF THE BOSTON MARATHONS. NON-BINARY DIVISION. A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE REALLY HAPPY THAT I WAS ABLE TO REPRESENT, UM, VERMONT AND THE LARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE ON THAT STAGE. RAVICHANDRAN IS RETURNING FOR A NEW CHALLENGE IN 2024 BECAUSE THE PARTICIPATION IS DOUBLE, IT’S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE COMPETITIVE THIS YEAR. UM, WHICH I’M SUPER, SUPER EXCITED ABOUT. UM, ALSO A LITTLE TERRIFIED. THE NON-BINARY DIVISION IS SEEING A 100% INCREASE FROM 2023 TO 2020 FOUR’S RACE. YOU KNOW, THIS BOSTON MARATHON MAY BE THE MOST COMPETITIVE, NON-BINARY DIVISION TO DATE IN ANY ROAD RACE, WHICH IS A REALLY, REALLY BIG DEAL. THE FIELD OF 54 INCLUDES THE WINNER OF LAST YEAR’S NEW YORK CITY MARATHON IN THE NON-BINARY DIVISION, CAL KALAMIA. THEY’VE BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR NON-BINARY RUNNERS BY PARTICIPATING IN THE BIGGEST RACES. I, YOU KNOW, GREW UP RUNNING ON WOMEN’S TEAMS AND THEN I STARTED A TRANSITION AND WAS LIKE, WHERE DO I GO? HAVING A NON-BINARY DIVISION JUST OPENS UP POSSIBILITY FOR NON-BINARY ATHLETES BECAUSE IT SHOWS US THAT THERE IS A WAY FOR US TO TO DO OUR SPORT, TO DO THE THING THAT WE LOVE. CALAMIA SAYS. THERE’S STILL ROOM FOR RACES TO BECOME MORE EQUITABLE. BOSTON, LIKE OTHER MARATHONS, DOESN’T HAVE A PRIZE POOL FOR ITS NON-BINARY DIVISION, BUT THAT HASN’T STOPPED RAVICHANDRAN’S PURSUIT FOR AN EVEN BETTER PERFORMANCE, AS THEY LOOK TO PIONEER EVEN MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATHLETES LIKE THEM IN THE FUTURE. BEFORE BOSTON WAS SO BINARY AND JUST LIKE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO REPRESENT YOURSELF IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND I’M REALLY GLAD THAT THEY, UM, THE PARTICIPATION HAS DOUBLED. RAVICHANDRAN IS LOOKING TO MAKE MORE HISTORY WHEN THEY CROSS THE START LINE IN HOPKINTON ON MARATHON MONDAY IN BURLINGTON. I’M NOAH CIERZAN NBC FIVE NEWS. NBC FIVE WILL BE AT THE START AND FINISH LINE OF THE 128TH BOSTON MARATHON TOMORROW, CHEERING ON EVERY RUNNER AND HANDCYCLIST FROM OUR REGION, BUT HERE ARE A COUPLE OF RACE BIBS TO LOOK OUT FOR THAT WILL BE FOLLOWING ON THE BIG DAY. ADAM QUINN FROM STOWE. HE’S THE HIGHEST RANKED MALE RUNNER FROM VERMONT. CONNOR MONTGOMERY FROM CHARLOTTE. THE SECOND HIGHEST RANKED MALE RUNNER FROM VERMONT, ALONG WITH THE OLDEST RUNNER FROM VERMONT, TOSHIHARU FURUKAWA FROM ESSEX JUNCTION, JANIS CAMPBELL FROM WESTFORD. THE SECOND OLDEST RUNNER FROM VERMONT, AND ARDEN WOJACK FROM MANCHESTER CENTER, THE YOUNGEST RUNNER FROM VERMONT. AND HERE’S ANOTHER RUNNER WE’LL BE WATCHING CLOSELY. A WOMAN FROM ESSEX, VERMONT IS RUNNING THE BOSTON MARATHON THIS YEAR TO CHECK OFF A MAJOR BUCKET LIST ITEM BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT. WATCHING MARY WILLIAMS LACE UP HER RUNNING SHOES, SHE LOOKS LIKE A STRONG, HEALTHY ATHLETE READY TO RUN MILES ON END. BUT SOMETIMES THE OUTSIDE DOESN’T ALWAYS REFLECT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE INSIDE. SOME DAYS, LIKE MAYBE MY, YOU KNOW, STOMACH JUST FEELS OFF OR THERE’S A LOT OF FATIGUE, OR SOMETIMES THERE’S DIZZINESS. I’VE DEALT WITH VERTIGO. TRAINING FOR THE BOSTON MARATHON IS HARD ENOUGH, BUT MARY IS DOING IT WITH BRAIN CANCER. SO I HAVE GRAVE. TWO OLIGODENDROGLIOMA IRA IS THE TYPE OF CANCER. WHEN MARY WAS DIAGNOSED TWO YEARS AGO, HER DOCTOR TOLD HER SHE HAD TEN YEARS LEFT TO LIVE. I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE FEELINGS OF LIKE, THIS IS UNFAIR. AND MY MOM HAD DIED. THE YEAR PRIOR TO THAT, WHICH WAS REALLY HARD TO TO DEAL WITH. THEN I THINK AFTER THE INITIAL SHOCK THE NEXT DAY, I HAD THE THE FEELING LIKE, WELL, AT LEAST I HAVE TEN YEARS WITH A GLASS HALF FULL MENTALITY. MARY CREATED A BUCKET LIST THIS APRIL 15TH. SHE’LL CHECK OFF NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST TO RUN THE WORLD’S OLDEST ANNUAL MARATHON. BOSTON IS SOMETHING I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO, BUT JUST BECAUSE I WAS FOCUSED ON OTHER THINGS, IT JUST DIDN’T HAPPEN. MARY WILL BE A PART OF THE ADAPTIVE PROGRAM RUNNING ALONGSIDE HER COACH AND BOYFRIEND, ERIC. SHE’S ALSO RUNNING FOR CHARITY WITH THE DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE, WHERE SHE’S RECEIVING TREATMENT. IT IS TRULY INSPIRING JUST TO SEE THE THE SUPPORT THAT RUNNERS SUCH AS MARY AND OUR WHOLE TEAM RECEIVE FROM THEIR COMMUNITY. THESE RUNNERS WITH THE DANA-FARBER MARATHON CHALLENGE HAVE A FUNDRAISING COMMITMENT OF $10,000. MARY’S GOAL IS TO RAISE 26.2 THOUSAND AND SHE’S ALMOST THERE. I HAVE SO MUCH GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT I’VE HAD WITH MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY, WITH MY COWORKERS, AND THERE’S JUST BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE RALLYING BEHIND ME, TAKING LIFE ONE STRIDE AT A TIME AND LIVING LIKE EACH DAY IS HER LAST. YOU MAY FEEL THE BEST YOU FEEL TODAY THAN YOU WOULD TOMORROW. SO JUST DON’T WAIT AND DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE. AND CRUZ FINISHED LAYING DOWN THE LINE ON BOYLSTON STREET IN BOSTON THAT MARY AND ALL THE OTHER RUNNERS WILL CROSS TOMORROW AFTER RUNNING 26.2 MILES, CRUZ PAINTED THE START LINE ON MAIN STREET IN HOPKINTON ON WEDNESDAY. IT FEATURES A GRAPHIC COMMEMORATING THE 100TH YEAR OF THE RACE, STARTING IN HOPKINTON, MASSACHUSETTS. AND ALONG THE COURSE, CONTENTIOUS MOMENTS ALONG THE BOSTON MARATHON ROUTE. LAST YEAR HAVE LED TO SOME CHANGES. THIS YEAR, PEOPLE OF COLOR SAY THEY FELT TARGETED WHILE CHEERING ON FRIENDS NEAR MILE 21 IN NEWTON. POLICE AND THE B.A.A. SAY THEY WERE ENFORCING THE RULES TO KEEP SPECTATORS OFF THE COURSE. AND NOW RACE ORGANIZERS ARE TAKING NEW STEPS APPLYING AND AMPLIFYING RULES ALONG THE COURSE. DAVID BIENICK. FROM OUR SISTER STATION WCVB REPORTS ON THE NEW BARRIERS THAT RUNNERS WILL SEE UP ALONG THE ENTIRE 26.2 COURSE. THE ATHENS OLYMPICS 2004 VANDERLEI DE LIMA FROM BRAZIL. IS LEADING WITH FOUR MILES TO GO. SUDDENLY, A MAN RUNS OUT ONTO THE COURSE, TACKLES DE LIMA AND PUSHES HIM TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TWO OTHER RUNNERS PASS DE LIMA, WHO HAS TO SETTLE FOR OLYMPIC BRONZE. IS THAT THE KIND OF THING YOU WORRY ABOUT? IT IS, BUT IT’S ALSO MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR RUNNERS HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE. BOSTON MARATHON OPERATIONS CHIEF LAUREN PROSHIN SAYS EVERYONE FROM WORLD CHAMPIONS TO FIRST TIME RUNNERS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A COURSE FREE OF DISTRACTIONS. SHE SAYS SPECTATORS ON THE COURSE CAN ALSO BE DANGEROUS. PEOPLE CAN ABSOLUTELY GET HURT. FROM HOPKINTON. TO BOSTON, TYPICALLY ABOUT 40% OF THE COURSE HAS METAL BARRICADES ALONG EACH SIDE. THIS YEAR, ORGANIZERS ARE ADDING FOUR MILES OF BARRICADES IN ASHLAND, NATICK, WELLESLEY, NEWTON. AND BOSTON. MARATHON ORGANIZERS ALSO WANT TO REMIND SPECTATORS IT’S AGAINST THE RULES TO THROW STREAMERS OR CONFETTI ON THE COURSE. EVEN BLOWING BUBBLES IS A NO NO. OF COURSE, THE B.A.A. SAYS CHEERS AND HIGH FIVES FROM BEHIND THE BARRICADES OR ON THE CURB ARE STILL FINE. IN THE END, ORGANIZERS SAY BARRIERS AND RULES CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. WHAT REALLY KEEPS THE RACE FAIR AND SAFE IS SPECTATORS GOODWILL. I THINK WE HAVE TO ASK FOR THE COOPERATION OF EVERYONE INVOLVED AND REMEMBER, JUST BEYOND THE FINISH LINE, RUNNERS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS CAN HUG AND CELEBRATE AS MUCH AS THEY WANT. STILL AHEAD ON NBC FIVE IN DEPTH. WE TALK MORE WITH ONE OF THE MAJOR CHARITIES IN BOSTON ON WHY THIS MARATHON IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE WORK THEY DO IN CANCER RESEARCH AND MORE ON THE IMPACT THEIR WORK IS HAVING FOR ONE RUNNER IN OUR REGION. WELCOME BACK. WILLIAMS EARLIER, THE RUNNER FROM ESSEX BEING TREATED FOR BRAIN CANCER WHO WILL RUN THE BOSTON MARATHON TOMORROW. SHE’S BEING TREATED AT THE DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE WHILE RUNNING THE MARATHON FOR THE ORGANIZATION. I SAT DOWN WITH JAN ROSS, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF RUNNING OPERATIONS AT DANA-FARBER, TO TALK ABOUT THEIR CHARITY EFFORTS. THIS YEAR. DAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. HI, LAUREN. IT’S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU. SO TELL ME ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT OF THIS YEAR’S BOSTON MARATHON RUN. OH, EVERY YEAR JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER. AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THE 35TH RUNNING OF THE DANA-FARBER MARATHON CHALLENGE. SO WE’RE HAVING A LOT OF FUN PLAYING WITH THOSE NUMBERS AND AND CELEBRATING THAT. HOW MANY. PEOPLE WILL BE PARTICIPATING WITH THE TEAM THIS YEAR? THERE ARE ABOUT 500 RUNNERS ON THE DANA-FARBER MARATHON CHALLENGE TEAM, AND. AND REPRESENTED IN THAT GROUP IS 33 STATES. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. AND WE HAVE SIX INTERNATIONAL RUNNERS AS WELL. AND 35 YEARS OF HAVING THE MARATHON TEAM. YOU’VE. BEEN WITH THE TEAM THIS WHOLE TIME. WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO SEE THE PROGRESS MADE ALL THESE YEARS LATER? YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT IN, IN THE DFMC HISTORY, WE HAVE FUNDED. ALMOST 330 RESEARCH PROJECTS WHICH ARE BASIC SCIENCE PROJECTS, AND THEY’RE SO BEHIND THE SCENES, YET THEY AFFECT SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS OF MEDICAL RESEARCH AND CANCER TREATMENT. IT’S JUST BEEN AMAZING TO SEE THE PROGRESS THAT’S OCCURRED. AND WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE SOME A RUNNER FROM OUR REGION, MARY, WHO’S RUNNING WITH YOU GUYS, WHO IS ALSO BATTLING CANCER RIGHT NOW, A BRAIN CANCER. UM, WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THESE RUNNERS WHO NOT ONLY ARE RAISING MONEY FOR, FOR A GOOD CAUSE, BUT ARE ALSO PATIENTS OF YOUR GUYS’S THERE AT DANA-FARBER? IT IS SO INSPIRING. AND THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING MARY. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING HER YET. HOWEVER, IN HER APPLICATION TO BE ON THE TEAM, SHE TOLD US A BIT ABOUT HER CURRENT EXPERIENCE AND SHE ALSO HAS SOME INFORMATION ON HER FUNDRAISING WEB PAGE AND IT IS TRULY INSPIRING JUST TO SEE THE THE SUPPORT THAT RUNNERS SUCH AS MARY AND OUR WHOLE TEAM RECEIVE FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES RIGHT NOW. I THINK MARY HAS OVER 100 DONORS TO TO HER FUNDRAISING EFFORT THIS SEASON, AND IT’S IT’S JUST SO, SO MEANINGFUL. WELL, TELL ME ABOUT HOW BIG OF A ROLE THE MARATHON TEAM PLAYS IN DANA-FARBER WITH RESEARCH AND JUST KIND OF LOOKING FOR MORE OF A CURE TO CANCER. YEAH. THANKS FOR ASKING ABOUT THAT. UH, THE DANA-FARBER MARATHON CHALLENGE TEAM IS ACTUALLY REALLY, REALLY SPECIAL WITHIN THE THE DIVISION OF PHILANTHROPY AND DANA-FARBER, BECAUSE WE SUPPORT A SPECIFIC RESEARCH FUND. IT’S. CALLED THE CLAUDIA ADAMS BARR PROGRAM IN INNOVATIVE BASIC CANCER RESEARCH, WHICH I AM VERY GOOD AT RATTLING OFF AFTER ALL OF MY MY TIME ON THE TEAM. UM, WE CALL IT THE CLAUDIA ADAMS BARR PROGRAM FOR, FOR SHORT, AND IT WAS FOUNDED AT DANA-FARBER IN 1987 BY DOLORES. BARR WEAVER AND HER HUSBAND, WAYNE WEAVER, IN MEMORY OF HER MOTHER, WHO WAS CLAUDIA ADAMS BARR. AND SHE HAD SADLY PASSED OF CANCER ABOUT 30 YEARS BEFORE THAT. AND WHEN THE WEAVER’S UM HAD THE WHEREWITHAL TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM, UM, IN HER MEMORY, THEY DECIDED TO DO IT AT DANA-FARBER AND FUND FUNDS. SOME OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE BASIC CANCER RESEARCH IN ITS EARLIEST STAGES. SO THIS PROGRAM HAS HAS A LONG LEGACY OF OF 35 PLUS YEARS ON THE RESEARCH FRONT AND WE ARE FUNDING IN INVESTIGATORS WHO ARE SUPPORTING ALL AREAS OF MEDICAL AND CANCER RESEARCH. SO IT’S VERY GRATIFYING TO BE PART OF THAT. THAT’S AMAZING. AND TELL ME ABOUT HOW THE THE FUNDRAISING NUMBERS ARE THIS YEAR COMPARED TO YEARS PRIOR. WELL. WELL, UH, OF COURSE, THE, THE THE GRAND TOTAL IS NOT KNOWN YET. HOWEVER, IT IS GOING REALLY, REALLY WELL. UM, WE RECENTLY GAVE AN UPDATE TO OUR TEAM THAT WE HAD RAISED OVER $6 MILLION SO FAR. OUR OUR GOAL THIS. YEAR IS $7.85 MILLION. WE’RE KEEPING WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW UNDER WRAPS, UH, UNTIL MARATHON WEEKEND AND THEN WE’LL BE HAVING OUR GRAND TOTAL ANNOUNCEMENT LATER, LATER ON IN THE IN THE LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL. UM, I’M VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE ARE GOING TO MEET AND MAYBE EVEN EXCEED OUR GOAL. SO. WE’RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE’LL BE CHEERING ON THE WHOLE TEAM. JAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU LAUREN. AND A REMINDER THAT NBC FIVE WILL BE CARRYING LIVE COVERAGE OF THE MARATHON TOMORROW. NOAH SEARSBURG WILL BE LIVE AT THE START LINE ALONG WITH ME AT THE FINISH LINE FOR OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE STARTING AT 830. YOU CAN ALSO STREAM THE EVENT ON OUR WEBSITE MYNBC5.COM. DOT COM. AND OF COURSE, WE ALSO WANT TO WISH ALL OF THE RUNNERS OUT THERE GOOD LUCK! IT IS SUCH A FUN EVENT AND HAVING COMPLETED THE RACE LAST YEAR, I KNOW IT TAKES BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS AND I’M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN NOW AND CHEER EVERYONE ON AT THE FINISH LINE. STILL AHEAD HERE, THE CHURCH CHOIR CREATING A SAFE SPACE THROUGH SONG. GREAT GREAT GREAT GOD. WE’RE HIGHLIGHTING THE GROUP WELCOMING. AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY WITH OPEN ARMS. TO SHARE A LOVE OF MUSIC AND SPIRIT. WELCOME BACK. WE’RE TAKING YOU TO PLATTSBURGH NOW, WHERE A GROUP OF COLLEGE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE UPLIFTING OTHERS THROUGH GOSPEL MUSIC. THE TRADITIONAL MUSIC HAS ROOTS IN CHRISTIANITY AND. AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY. THE. PLATTSBURGH STATE GOSPEL CHOIR AT SUNY PLATTSBURGH, FORMED IN 1991. IT’S MADE UP OF MEMBERS FROM BOTH VERMONT AND NORTHERN NEW YORK WHO EXPRESS THEIR PASSION FOR MUSIC THROUGH SONG AND DANCE. OUR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, SHELBY LINCOLN, TAKES US TO ONE OF THE CHOIR’S REHEARSALS. AS THEY PREPARE FOR A FESTIVAL THAT MEANS A LOT TO THEIR COMMUNITY. ALTO. FROM BEGINNING ALTOS ONE, TWO, NE TWO, WE BRING GREAT GRACE. ALRIGHT, GREAT GOD, YOU ARE SO DESERVING, IRVING. GREAT. YOU ARE GREAT LEE TO BE PREYE SO MAKE SURE YOU DON’T OVER SING AND BARTON RIGHT SOPRANO SWANTON I’VE BEEN PART OF THE PLATTSBURGH STATE GOSPEL CHOIR SINCE 1999, WHEN MY FAMILY AND I MOVED HERE FROM. MISSISSIPPI. UM, MY. WIFE BARBARA, AT THE TIME, DANIELLE WAS LIKE ONE, UH, DALTON HADN’T BEEN BORN YET, AND WE MOVED HERE WITH, UH, THE BIGGEST U-HAUL TRUCK YOU COULD HAVE MY NAME IS DEXTER. CHRIS. I. AM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE SUNY PLATTSBURGH STATE GOSPEL CHOIR, ONE OF. I STARTED GOSPEL CHOIR PRETTY MUCH SINCE I WAS TWO YEARS OLD, BUT. BUT OFFICIALLY, WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, UM, STARTING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. MY NAME IS DANIELLE. CHRIS. I AM THE STUDENT ADVISOR HERE. GROWING UP IN THE CHOIR HAS BEEN MY SECOND FAMILY, UM, GROWING UP IN THE NORTH COUNTRY, I DIDN’T SEE MANY PEOPLE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME. SO GETTING TO BE IN CHOIR, WHERE IT’S A VARIETY. OF VARIOUS PEOPLE, WAS VERY EYE OPENING FOR ME. UM, IN A SAFE PLACE FOR ME TO BE, UM, SEEING PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME AND PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. PRAISE THE LORD. FIRST MIKE PENCE TAYLOR SMALL THE CHURCH GOSPEL CHOIR TENDS TO SING ALL TYPES OF GOSPEL STYLES. OF COURSE YOU HAVE YOUR TRADITIONAL GOSPEL LIKE THE JAMES CLEVELAND MUSIC. YOU KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR, UH, CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL. UH, WHETHER IT’S HEZEKIAH WALKER OR, UM, AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR, UM, YOUR BALLADS, LIKE THE TOTAL PRAISE AND ORDER MY STEPS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE THE SPIRITUALS. THEY WERE WRITTEN DURING THE TIME WHEN PAIN WAS EVERYWHERE FOR A NATION OF PEOPLE. UM, THOSE SLAVES AND THOSE SLAVE DESCENDANTS WHO BROUGHT THOSE SONGS TO LIFE. THEY. THEY ALSO SHARED THEIR JOY. GOSPEL MUSIC TO ME IS SOMETHING THAT ANYONE CAN LISTEN TO, WHETHER YOU’RE RELIGIOUS OR NOT. THE WORDS ARE POWERFUL. THERE’S FAST, AND THERE’S SOMETHING IN BETWEEN. YOU TALKING ABOUT HANDEL’S MESSIAH. HALLELUJAH, YOU KNOW, HALLELUJAH. AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GET THEY GET YOU KNOW, PRETTY GOING WITH IT. BUT WHEN WE GO, WE GO, YOU KNOW, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, Y’ALL. SAME WORDS. BUT THERE’S A LITTLE SOMETHING, SOMETHING IN THAT. WITH THE RHYTHM TO BE. PRAISE. TO BE FREE TO RAISE OUR HEARTS. UM. IT’S AWESOME BEING ABLE TO. TO SING WITH THE STUDENTS AT. AND IT’S REALLY A COMMUNITY MORE LIKE A FAMILY. UM, PEOPLE. PEOPLE ARE SO OUTGOING AND GIVING AND CARING AND KIND AND AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU NEED. SOMEBODY TO PRAY FOR YOU, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO DO THAT. WHEN I LOST MY SON DALTON, UM, FOUR YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, THIS CHOIR MORE THAN. ANYTHING, PROBABLY KEPT ME SANE. THE SOURCE OF MY STRENGTH. HE WASN’T MUCH OF A SINGER, BUT HE COULD PLAY THE DRUMS. SO EVERY DAY I PLAY IN THIS CHOIR EXPRESS AT THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, DALTON WAS ALWAYS RIGHT HERE OR MAINLY RIGHT HERE. AND WE. WE DIDN’T HAVE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER. WE JUST. HAD IT SINCE HE WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. YOU KNOW, HE DIED AT 18. SO FOR 13 YEARS, THE GOOD LORD BLESSED ME WITH A DRUMMER. SO THE DALTON RASHAD HONORS GOSPEL FEST, UM, WE HAD ONE ABOUT FOUR YEARS BEFORE COVID HAPPENED. SO TO NOW NAME THIS AFTER HIM IS, UM, IT’S VERY TOUCHING TO THE HEART THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT WHERE HE WAS AT THE VERY FIRST ONE. AND NOW TO HONOR HIM IS DEFINITELY A BLESSING. BERLIN. UM, SO FOR ME, GOSPEL IS EVERYTHING. THING. UM, THE GLUES THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF ME TOGETHER AND KEEPS ME GROUNDED, KEEPS ME CENTERED, REFOCUSES ME WHERE I SHOULD BE, WHERE THERE’S A FATHER AS A HUSBAND, YOU KNOW, AS A TEACHER. UM, YEAH. IT’S JUST, UH, IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO ME. RIGHT. AND YOU CAN ATTEND THE DALTON RASHAD. CHRIS. ADIRONDACK HIGH SCHOOL HONORS. GOSPEL FESTIVAL THAT’S HAPPENING THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND ON FRIDAY, APRIL 19TH. SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH. LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS FROM OUR REGION WILL BE PARTICIPATING. IN THE TWO DAY FESTIVAL, WHICH ENDS WITH A CONCERT AT THE STRAND IN PLATTSBURGH. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE AND YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE AT PLATTSBURGH STATE GOSPEL CHOIR DOT ORG. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS SUNDAY, AND BE SURE TO TUNE IN TOMORROW MORNING FOR OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE. MARATHON RIGHT HERE ON NBC FIVE.