Cold, wet and tired, Nakusp native Char Hoyem was elated to have completed the 2018 Boston Marathon for charity. Having raised $10,000 for the National Braille Press, (NBP) a literacy non-profit for the blind, she completed a 5 km race blindfolded on Saturday and had a clear view for 42.2 km marathon on Monday.
“Saturday was beautiful. [Today] is an absolute beast of a day. It is pouring rain and blowing and so many people didn’t finish the run. Absolutely terrible race times, but epic race stories. I believe I was 5:37, which is terrible, but I finished the race!”
It was a tough run, but the real challenge was on sunny Saturday when Hoyem donned a blindfold for the 5 km course with the help of a volunteer guide. Finishing in 38 minutes, she had previous practice with running blind at home in Calgary. In February she participated in a full marathon, also for charity while blindfolded and tethered to her guide. This month in Boston, the number of participants necessitated that she be closer to her volunteer guide, Howard Tanner - a friend and fellow Calgary running club member by grabbing his shirt. Hoyem reported that Tanner “was phenomenal and talked me through.”
Tanner said, “The entire race was blanketed in rain which at times was extremely heavy. The addition of strong winds up to 30 km/hour will make this years’ Boston Marathon race (one) that will be talked about for years.”
Hoyem, whose 18 year old son Tait Hoyem is blind, was honoured to raise the funds necessary in order to participate in this prestigious marathon.
“[The cause is] so close to my heart because when my son was little and he was learning braille, there wasn’t anyone to teach me and the National Braille Press from Boston sent me a course and did home support and taught me braille so that I could check his homework and write him notes in his lunch and read to him.”
Based in Boston, once the NBP found out that Hoyem had began running she was invited to represent them at the world famous race. She arrived Thursday with Tanner, her daughter and other members of her running club.
“Tait did so well in school that the whole Calgary Board of Education now teaches parents Braille because it makes a difference. It was a labour of love, I ran 42.2km of gratitude today.”
The group was treated to a facility tour and dinner out with the NBP during their five day stay in Boston.
Char (Allen) Hoyem was born and raised in Nakusp, is the daughter of Ralph and Jackie Allen, and sister of Way Allen, currently of Nakusp.