Foxborough Resident Chris Miskinis to Run Her 28th Boston Marathon Monday

Foxborough resident Chris Miskinis, 63, knows first-hand the critical impact the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay program can have not only on a child’s life but on their family’s as well.

Miskinis’ son, Brendan, has been matched with his Big Brother, Jim, for 17 years.

“Jim continues to provide much needed guidance that ensures Brendan reaches his full potential,” Miskinis said.

The 63-year-old mother will be running in her 28th Boston Marathon Monday to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay.

“I am so fortunate to stay so healthy and to have the opportunity to ‘pay back’ Big Brother for all that they have done for me and so many other families like mine,” Miskinis said. “I was a single mom with a special needs son. Through Big Brother, Brendan' s "Big," Jim, changed our lives forever. We became part of Jim's large, wonderful family. Brendan had opportunities he would never had experienced. He learned to love sports (especially hockey) and attended many professional games with Jim. He was in Jim's wedding and is the Godfather to Jim's daughter, who is one of four of Jim's kids. Can you imagine how special Brendan's life has been with Jim and his family's love?”

Miskinis said one of Brendan’s favorite parts of being a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters is the “celebrity” status that can come with being part of the program, especially when Jim was named Big Brother of the Year.

“Jim was named Big Brother of the Year and with the newspapers and all the attention Brendan received from that then and in the future years, Brendan thinks he is famous,” Miskinis said. “After the Big Brother Awards night, Jim walked in to a local clothing store in Marshfield where he was living at the time. Jim Craig, the Olympic Gold medal hockey goalie was in the store. They made eye contact when Jim walked in, but soon Jim Craig walked over to our Jim and said, ‘I know who you are!’ Here this Gold medal champion is telling our Jim that he knows him, when everyone in the world at that time knew who Jim Craig was.”

 For Miskinis, running the marathon is about sharing something special with those who are younger and older than her.

“We each have our own special reasons for running,” Miskinis said of her and other marathon runners. “And then there are those who are running who are so challenged in their everyday lives, and I am running and am just tired. The next day they will still have their issues, and I will be fine, but just nothing more than tired. How fortunate am I to be complaining about being tired from running 26 miles? I have seen runners who are blind tethered to another runner, one who is on a respirator with someone behind him with a wagon carrying the tank of oxygen, women runners with only part of one arm, athletes in wheel chairs.”

Running for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay makes it all the more special for Miskinis and her son, Brendan.

“It's not about me, it's about the inspirations that carry me through the months of training and the experience of the great day,” she said. “These are things that are in your heart forever and even when it's 90 degrees or a rainy type blizzard like a few years ago, it keeps me going because I am so grateful. I know I am just one happy story. Big Brother has helped make others' dreams come true for years and years. I will do my best to stay in the race for years to come so I can promote their good efforts to families who were in need of a positive role model like mine.”

Miskinis is one of 11 Foxborough residents participating in Monday’s 117th Boston Marathon. The local runners will embark on the 26.22-mile course that begins in Hopkinton and finishes at Copley Square in Boston. According to the Boston Marathon's website, the race was moved from Ashland to Hopkinton in 1924 and in 1927 the course was lengthened to the full distance of 26 miles, 385 yards to meet Olympic standards.