Johanna Vergoni

My name is Johanna Vergoni. I am a life-long runner who discovered my love for running at an early age. As a kid I participated in my community’s track and field club and in high school participated in cross-country, winter and spring track where later I became an All-Star, and team captain. I ran cross-country in college and have continued to run including two marathons and various road races around the region. My daughter (age 6) and son (age 4) both have interest in running and enjoy racing with my husband and I in our town’s summer running program in my beloved home town of Marion, Massachusetts.

Throughout my running career there have always been three constants, family, friends and community. It goes without saying that without the love and support of my family, coaches, parents of team members, town donors and countless hours from volunteers I would not have had the opportunities that were presented to me. These opportunities took many shapes but most notably scholarships, for which I received for running and community involvements, and a state of the art track and field facility which was fund-raised by community donors.

It seems only natural to participate in a fund raising opportunity that gives back to community programs.  Ashland is a community not very different from my own home town.  That is why I am running on behalf of Ashland whose town plays a piece of the 26.2 mile puzzle that makes up the Boston Marathon. I have the opportunity to give to this community where last year’s Boston Marathon runners raised over $65,000 that went toward the town’s grant program. It is this grant program that funds money to Action for Healthy Kids which is a program geared toward promoting healthy eating in children. The grant puts money toward athletic and fitness programs for youth such as Ashland Pop Warner, Ashland Youth Soccer and countless other non-profit organizations and local scholarships.

I am both honored and humbled to participate in the Boston Marathon and I thank the community of Ashland for giving me this opportunity. We often hear it takes a village. I am proud to be a part of this village, and to pay some good forward.
Thank you!
Johanna Vergoni