For the second year in a row, Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) is honored to be an official charity partner of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon on April 16. We have a team of 15 wonderfully dedicated and hard-working runners, all of whom are fundraising a minimum of $4,000 each to help expand quality mentoring in Massachusetts. The team, along with several other charities in our coalition, is led by Coach Rick Muhr, who has more than 16 years of Marathon coaching experience.  Meet our runners below, and learn why they're running in support of MMP. Click through the links to learn more about them. We truly appreciate their support and your generosity!

Name: Alexis Avila
Hometown: Wayland
Why I'm running: I am a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay (BBBSMB) and was nominated as one of the finalists for "Big of the Year" in 2010
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Alexisavila

Name: Jeff Burek
Hometown: South Boston
Why I'm running: The Boston Marathon is the ultimate goal for me! And I am a mentor with BBBSMB
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Jeffburek

Name: Megan Carroll
Hometown: South Boston
Why I'm running: Helping people while accomplishing my goal of running the Boston Marathon would be the perfect marriage!
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Mcarroll2012bostonmarathon

Name: Jason Caton
Hometown: Annapolis
Why I'm running: My experiences with mentoring have taught me how important a mentor can be
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Jasoncaton 

Name: Chris Collier
Hometown: Boston
Why I'm running: Being a "Big" will have a major impact on two lives!
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Boston-Marathon-Fundraising

Name: Juan Cruz Heyl Picasso
Hometown: Cambridge
Why I'm running: I have previously come across youth in need and have witnessed first-hand how mentors can really change someone's life path. I'll be running to help promote this idea
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Mass-Mentoring-Partnership-1 

Name: Jerry Dash
Hometown: Rochester Hills, MI
Why I'm running: I run the VIP Mentoring Program in Michigan, with a special focus on Detroit, for children who have been affected by incarceration. In running Boston on behalf of MMP, I hope to serve as an encouragement to our mentored youth to dream BIG and BELIEVE that they can succeed against the odds!
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Encouraging-Youth-To-Believe-They-Can-Succeed

Name: Sheree Dunwell
Hometown: Lynn
Why I'm running: I've fallen in love with this organization!
Website:  www.sherizzle71.wordpress.com or www.razoo.com/story/sheree

Name: Megan Herald
Hometown: Winthrop
Why I'm running: I believe in mentoring and I am a school-based mentor with Big Sister Association of Greater Boston
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Megan-Herald

Name: Maggie Lapan
Hometown: Watertown
Why I'm running: I want to run the Boston Marathon for MMP because mentoring programs are important to keeping kids on the right track towards a bright future. I run in honor of mentors everywhere who are the light!
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Mags

Name: Joanne Quinlan Roberts
Hometown: Methuen
Why I'm running: I have been on the board of Family Service, Inc. in Lawrence for years, and I am passionate about our mission of serving families and youth in the Lawrence area.
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Boston-Marathon-2012-6 

Name: Shannon Rielly
Hometown: Plymouth
Why I'm running: By running the Marathon with MMP, I can show my "Little Friend" (of Big Friends, Little Friends) that he can also do anything he sets his mind to!
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Shannon-Rielly

Name: Jeff Russell
Hometown: West Bridgewater
Why I'm running: As the Executive V.P. and C.O.O. of the Old Colony YMCA, I believe in the importance of mentoring young people
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Jeff-Russell 

Name: Ryan Stirling
Hometown: Malden
Why I'm running: Every week with my mentee in the Stand and Deliver program I see firsthand how much a difference mentoring makes to these young people
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Stirling 

Name: Greg Sullivan
Hometown: Easton
Why I'm running: I truly appreciate how we as adults can have a significant impact on the lives of young people
Website: www.razoo.com/story/Gregsullivan