Friday Presentation

About the Event:

• We were joined at our virtual Friday evening presentation by Kathrine Switzer. Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially enter and run the Boston Marathon in 1967.  A lifelong leader and advocate for women’s running, Kathrine continues to connect, support and inspire women around the world through running with her 261 Fearless organization.  She will be an amazing speaker to promote the positive power of running to change lives!
• The First Western Bank & Trust Beacon of Hope award was given to a two RADD runner that has used running to make the biggest difference in their lives​. Check out their stories here. 

About Katherine Switzer:
An iconic athlete, author, Emmy-award winning broadcaster and advocate for sports and social causes, Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially register and run the Boston Marathon in 1967. She was attacked in the race by an angry official who tried to rip off her bib number (#261) and throw her out of the race because she was a woman. She finished the 26.2 mile distance anyway and went on win the 1974 New York City Marathon and to champion women in the sport globally, most notably leading the drive to make the women's marathon an official Olympic event in 1984. Now, 58% of all runners in the USA are women. To celebrate this social revolution,  and to support another on active aging, Switzer ran the Boston Marathon again, at age 70, on the 50th anniversary of her iconic run, finishing only 24 minutes slower than she did when she was 20.  This run launched her non-profit '261 Fearless' --named after that famous bib number--which empowers women globally though running. She has been honored widely for her achievements including being inducted into the USA National Women’s Hall of Fame which recognized her for creating positive social change throughout her storied career.