Patrick Clancy, Duxbury, Mass., father of 3 slain children, completes Boston Marathon in their honor
A Duxbury, Massachusetts, father ran the 128th Boston Marathon in honor of his three children, who were killed last year.
Patrick Clancy raised money for Boston Children's Hospital to honor the memory of 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 7-month-old Callan. The children's mother, Lindsay Clancy, is charged in their deaths.
As of Monday evening, Clancy had raised more than $73,000 for Miles for Miracles, which raises funds for the hospital that cared for one of his children.
"It was a lot of work and my legs really hurt, but I'm more proud of all the money we raised for charity," Patrick Clancy said after crossing the finish line in just under 4 hours with a time of 3:59:19.
Patrick Clancy ran the marathon while wearing an item belonging to each of his children. He tied one of Cora's hair bows around part of his racing jersey, wore one of Dawson's wristband on his right wrist and wore a bracelet belonging to Callan on his left wrist.
"They were my motivation," Clancy said. "It was therapeutic. It was purpose. I knew we could make a big difference and we did, so it was good."
On the back of his jersey, Clancy had written the following message: "In memory of Cora, Dawson & Callan. Every mile, every day."
"I love my kids They were wonderful people. They had a lot of friends. Everybody loved them," he said. "They had short lives, but they had really good lives."
Patrick Clancy said he received a lot of support from people in the crowd as he ran the marathon, many of whom were strangers.
"Ninety-five percent of the people who called my name out, I don't even know who they were. I don't have my name on my bib, so I don't know how they knew me," Clancy said. "It was just really moving and I'm glad I did it."
Lindsay Clancy is facing three counts each of murder and strangulation in the January 2023 deaths of the children.
"I said I forgive my wife and I do. I'll just leave it at that," Patrick Clancy said after completing the marathon.
Lindsay Clancy was arraigned in October 2023 in a conference room at Tewksbury State Hospital, where she is receiving treatment, and held without bail. A judge ordered her to continue treatment for six months at the hospital.
