Losing a child is unthinkable to any parent, but here the dad who lost his three precious kids stepped in to honor them by providing hope to others.
Patrick Clancy finished the Boston Marathon with his three children in his heart, raising over $75,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital. He ran in memory of his children, Cora, Dawson, and Callan, who tragically died last year.
Running in honor of his three kids, Clancy wore personal items from each child—a hair bow, a wristband, and a bracelet, symbolizing their presence with him every step of the way. His singlet carried a touching message, “In memory of Cora, Dawson & Callan. Every mile, every day.”
In interviews, Clancy shared that running the marathon was therapeutic and gave him a sense of purpose. “It was my purpose. I knew we could make a big difference and we did, so it was good,” he explained to WCVB-TV.
Clancy expressed his deepest gratitude to the hospital where his youngest son spent his last moments. He wrote on his fundraising page, “Although I wished so badly for a different outcome, I was overwhelmed by the compassion and professionalism of the doctors and nurses in the ICU. They gave me a little more time with my boy and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”
Even without his name on his bib, many spectators recognized and encouraged him. “It was just really moving and I’m glad I did it,” Clancy said.
Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding his children’s deaths, with his wife facing serious charges, Clancy has publicly forgiven her. “I said I forgive my wife and I do. I’ll just leave it at that,” he stated after the marathon.