Adlai and Kerry Cunningham were Nova Scotia’s first father/son team to run in the Boston Marathon. They’ve raised $18,000 towards their goal of $26,000 for the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation. Donations are still being sought.
He remembers feeling goosebumps pop up as he ran past Wellesey College.“It’s an all girls college that they refer to as the scream tunnel. They cheer so loud it's deafening.”
Cunningham also ran the marathon two years ago, but this year he was on a special mission.
Accompanied by his son, Kerry, now living in Toronto, the duo set out in a crush of 22,375 runners to raise $26,000 for the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation’s new endowment program.
They came close at $18,000 and are continuing to collect funds for the cause.
At least 400 people dropped out as the race unfolded, but not Kerry who finished in 3:05 and Adlai with a 3:40 time.
For Adlai Cunningham, the painful leg cramps he experienced starting at mile 23 made completion of the race difficult. But the 500,000 people cheering racers on, helped.
“To have trouble when people see the pain in your face adds a whole new dimension because the encouragement is just amplified.
“You really feed off the energy especially near the end when you have nothing left and are hurting,” he said.
Contributions towards the Cunningham’s goal are still being sought. Tax deductable donations can be made by cheque to the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation and mailed to Adlai Cunningham, Box 220 Clark's Harbour, N.S. B0W 1P0 or go to
www.yarmouthhospitalfoundation.ca where you can learn more about the foundation, and donate on-line.
by Carla Allen/The Vanguard 
