Introducing HOPe’s Runners in the 2020 Boston Marathon®
House of Possibilities (HOPe) has been a proud official charity partner of the John Hancock® Non-Profit Program since 2015. We are excited to announce this year’s runners for Team HOPe in the 2020 Boston Marathon® rescheduled to Monday, September 14, 2020!
Lisa Cowgill’s passion for our mission could be felt from our first encounter, and her inspiring story on her fundraising page. She has a strong commitment to help children with disabilities, in particular children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She joins Team HOPe from Illinois, and hopes that through information sharing we can work together to maximize our efforts to help children with much needed services and support. “As a parent with a kid on the spectrum, I understand the importance of being an advocate and educating those around him (family, friends, teachers) about how to best support those with learning and developmental disabilities.”
Sungkar Houtama hails from Jakarta, and his story reminds us that the mission of HOPe transcends geographical boundaries. It is exciting to see him fundraise to support a common passion to enrich the lives of children, teens, and adults with disabilities, which unite us on a global scale. “[As a father of an autistic child] I am encouraged to raise funds for the autistic children's education foundation to ease the burden on autistic parents. I hope autistic children can live normal lives like ordinary people, and they get the same opportunities in society.”
Ornruedi Na-Ranong joins our team from Bangkok, and as you can see from her team fundraising page, passion and commitment to help those in need has no borders. Ornruedi has achieved success while overcoming many challenges in both in her professional life and as a dedicated runner. It is these qualities that have allowed her to persevere and find her inner strength, compassion and altruistic drive to help those in need. “It is a dream that all runners, no matter what their age, can achieve and complete all the majors. For me, it will be a major achievement in my life. It will also prove that people at any age can overcome the limits.”
Jessica Pappagianopoulos, a local Massachusetts resident, has a rich history with HOPe, having volunteered four years of her undergraduate career at Stonehill College as a Best Buddy for HOPe’s members. We are excited to have her back in this capacity, helping us to support the very members she spent hours of service with as a Best Buddy. “I am inspired by the mission of the HOPe, which laid the foundation for my future graduate studies and career trajectory. While many organizations offer programming for children and sometimes adolescents, the HOPe house stands out for the offerings provided to adults as well. Their programs do not simply provide temporary support or service, but rather long-term support that impacts an individual’s entire family system.”
Registered runners for the 2020 Boston Marathon® with bibs can still join Team HOPe and support our mission. Learn more about how to support or run for Team HOPe.
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