Allie Page, Dennis Page, Tedy Bruschi, Amy Page Hill and her son Owen last weekend at their Pinz Milford fundraising event
Amy Page Hill and her sister Allie Page will be running the 2014 Boston Marathon with Tedy’s Team raising money for the American Stroke Association.
Tedy’s Team was founded by former Patriot Linebacker Tedy Bruschi who suffered a stroke in 2005. During his recovery Bruschi committed himself to being an advocate, spokesperson, and inspiration for stroke survivors.
Amy ran with Tedy’s Team for the 2011 Falmouth Road Race and the 2012 Boston Marathon; running in memory of her Great-Aunt Katie Saucier who passed away from a stroke in 2007. Allie joined Tedy’s Team shortly after Amy and ran the 2013 Boston Marathon.
This year Amy and Allie are running the Boston Marathon together in honor of their father Dennis Page, “Our dedication and ties to Tedy’s Team changed drastically last January when our father suffered a stroke. We now run to honor him and to raise stroke awareness and education so other families won’t have to go through what our family has had to endure over the past year.” Amy said.
Dennis Page is a household name in Upton. Dennis is a Nipmuc graduate and was a gym teacher at Nipmuc High School for 15 years (1971-1986). He was instrumental in starting both the boys and girls soccer programs at Nipmuc. Dennis was also involved in the town soccer and basketball programs where he helped coach and was an active member and a former President of the Warriors Club.
Amy said her dad continues to work hard on his recovery, “My Dad has always been a very competitive, driven individual and that has not changed since his stroke. He is focused and determined on making a full recovery.”
When asked about how her training has been going Amy said, “We are very fortunate to be a part of such a great team.” Amy and Allie have been training in Boston as well as locally. Their coach has set up a workout program designed with long training runs on the weekends. Amy joked, “We have taken stock in Under Armour this year.” The road conditions have not been desirable but they have managed to run various routes of the marathon course and heart-break hill.
Amy has mixed emotions about participating in this years marathon after living through the terror attack last year. Amy said, “My initial reaction was that the marathon had been forever ruined for me and I would never run it again. But my fiery sister wouldn’t have it and was so angry and determined to finish what she started, that she coaxed me into running again. It is a frequent struggle for me between fear and determination and I frequently need to take a step back and refocus on why I run. I run because I can, I run because I love it, I run for those who can’t, and I run for my Dad. My goal is not to finish in a specific time this year, but to finish the job I started 4 years ago in spreading stroke awareness and education. My Dad taught me to be tough, never back down and finish what I started, and that is what I am doing.”
If you would like to help Amy and Allie in their cause visit their fundraising page.
And make sure you know the symptoms of a stroke and act F.A.S.T
Face- does one side of the face droop?
Arm- does one arm drift downward when trying to hold it up?
Speech- is speech slurred?
Time- call 911 at ANY sign of a stroke
Amy and Allie both are graduates of Nipmuc High School.
UPTON DAILY 