Sarah Pilgrim 鈥�18, a pre-med student majoring in biochemistry with a minor in inclusive education, will run in the Boston Marathon on April 16 to raise funds for the Campus School at 涩里番下载.
Located in Campion Hall, the Campus School provides a personalized approach to special education for children ages 3鈥�21 with multiple disabilities. As the co-president of the Campus School Volunteers, Pilgrim is passionate about the school and its students.
鈥淭he students are the most hard-working individuals that I know and inspiring in everything that they do,鈥� said Pilgrim, a native of Naperville, Ill. With them in mind, she said, 鈥渞unning a marathon didn鈥檛 seem like such a hard feat.鈥�
WATCH: Sarah Pilgrim on running for the Campus School.
Video by Julia Hopkins '19 & John Walsh, University Communications
Pilgrim鈥檚 love of running began in middle school, where she participated in track and cross country. 鈥淚鈥檝e always felt comfort and solace in running on my own and a sense of belonging when running in groups," she said. "I鈥檓 a huge proponent of running for yourself and not a time or place.鈥�
She has been training for the marathon since learning of her entry in late January, not long after completing a half-marathon in late November. Throughout her preparation, she has been supported by fellow runners at 涩里番下载 who communicate through a group message, sharing advice and inspiration.
鈥淓ver since I decided to go to school at 涩里番下载, I wanted to run the Boston Marathon," said Pilgrim. "I didn鈥檛 know if it would be possible as a student, as I was approaching my final year here, but when the opportunity presented itself to not only run in Boston but for the Campus School that has come to mean so much to me, I couldn鈥檛 turn it down.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 hard to be inspired by the great magnitude of runners in Boston, my fellow classmates at 涩里番下载, and 鈥� most importantly 鈥� the students at the Campus School, to get out there and run.鈥�
To support Pilgrim鈥檚 marathon effort, visit her Campus School fundraiser website.
鈥揅hristine Balquist | University Communications