Geoff Lamarche '04 is running the Boston Marathon to raise money for the Disability Law Center.

Lamarche Combines Passions; Runs For Cause

For Geoff Lamarche, his passion for running is a new development in his life. The senior has cultivated an enthusiasm for running during his college career, and has decided to use that passion to benefit others. This year, Lamarche is running the Boston Marathon to raise money for the Disability Law Center, an organization that protects the legal rights of people with physical disabilities.

Lamarche decided to run the Marathon for the second consecutive year, after receiving a letter from the Disability Law Center looking for fundraisers. He has been training with Mark Perrone, an experienced marathon runner and the cross-country coach at Assumption, and a number of Assumption and Worcester community members who are participating in the Marathon with an organization called Rena’s Run.

The Disability Law Center “is responsible for protecting and advocating for the rights of Massachusetts residents with disabilities.” (DLC website) It provides advocacy to protect the legal rights of people with disabilities. When Lamarche received an e-mail requesting runners for the organization, he immediately accepted the challenge. Having taken numerous Social and Rehabilitation Services classes at Assumption, Lamarche recognized the need for help and took it upon himself to raise the money, as well as awareness, of this social problem. His goal is to raise $3,000 for the DLC, and is currently at a total of $2,700, $1,200 of which was collected from Assumption students.

Rena’s Run is a non-profit organization that was started after an Assumption College staff member died of colon cancer in 2000. Rena Maltzman was the director of Counseling in the Student Development Center at Assumption from 1981 through 1999, as well as an expert on eating disorders. During her struggle with cancer, Rena vowed that if she recovered, she would run the Boston Marathon. Unfortunately, she never got the opportunity. Now every year, friends of Rena and other members of Rena’s Run participate in the marathon in her honor to raise money for charities. Last year, they donated the money to MEDA, the Massachusetts Eating Disorder Association. This year, the organization is raising money for the Rocky Hill (Connecticut) High School Michael P. Zabroski Scholarship Fund, set up in memory of an Assumption junior who passed away on January 26, 2004. The money raised will be given to one member of the Rocky Hill High School baseball team, Zabroski’s former team.

Lamarche, taking his own initiative, accepted the unique chance to run for the Disability Law Center and to be a numbered, or registered, runner. Although he is running for a separate cause, Lamarche has been training with Rena’s Run since the middle of December. He also goes for long runs with his brother Gregory, who is training for the Boston Marathon as well, on weekends. Gregory, like his brother, is running for an organization called Horizons for Homeless Children and is the one who initially sparked Geoff’s interest in long-distance running a few years ago.

The extensive training process for the marathon consists of a 12-week program. Short runs are completed during the week and range from three to eight miles. Weekends bring long runs, which began at five miles and have increased one mile every week to reach the marathon length.

As if that rigorous training schedule were not enough, Lamarche maintains a 3.1 GPA while studying the intense field of Business Management at Assumption. He also serves as vice president and senator for the class for 2004, and volunteers as a member of the College’s Reach Out Center. He is active in Campus Ministry, served as an orientation leader during the summer, and holds a work-study job in the Admissions Office, giving campus tours.

“It's all about time management,” he says. “Fortunately, I don’t need a lot of sleep.”

To help Geoff reach his goal of $2,500 for the Disability Law Center, all donations can be sent to Geoff LaMarche at 500 Salisbury Street, PO Box 1220, Worcester, MA 01609. Make checks payable to the Disability Law Center.

To support “Rena’s Run for Z”, you may purchase a T-shirt to help raise money for the Rocky Hill High School Michael P. Zabroski Scholarship Fund. They are available for $15 in the Student Life Office. Also, on April 16th there will be a Carb-Load Dinner in Taylor Dining Hall at 5:00 p.m. to prepare all runners for the Marathon. Bring $10 and your appetite to help the scholarship fund.