BOSTON — Longtime Peabody businessman and resident Brian McCarthy, who grew up in Lynnfield, walked Monday’s Boston Marathon for the benefit of Tom Smith and the Thomas E. Smith Foundation. He completed the race in 08:08:30.
“I’m thrilled to be a partner with the Thomas E. Smith Foundation to help change the lives of individuals living with paralysis,” said McCarthy in a social media post earlier this month.
“This incredible organization was co-founded by Thomas Smith – the first person in medical history to be paralyzed three separate times and recover,” McCarthy said. “Since his accidents, Tom has completed six Boston Marathons and has inspired me to try and accomplish my own personal goal of completing Boston while supporting the amazing work of the Thomas E. Smith Foundation.”
McCarthy first met Tom through McCarthy’s son, John, who was a good friend of Smith.
“When I learned about what Tom was doing, I called him to ask him if I could be what they call his ‘chaperone,'” McCarthy said. “I told him I knew I could help him raise a lot of money for his foundation.”
That might be the understatement of the century.
McCarthy is CEO of eMaxx Assurance Group Companies (formerly Peabody-based Energi). The company put up $20,000 to match the first $20,000 in donations.
“I’m thinking, we’re raising 50, 60 grand. Tom was all excited to raise that amount. Within five minutes of an email going out to potential donors, one of our member policyholders from Atlanta sent a response back that he was matching our $20K offer. He then went online and matched the donation that same day – it was incredible.”
As of raceday, McCarthy raised more than $135,500 for the foundation with commitments for another $30,000. As of April 18, McCarthy ranked fourth in donations across the entire marathon.
He said his only regret was getting a late start fundraising.
“I should have started earlier. Had I done that, I know I would be well over $200K easily,” McCarthy said.
One of the special perks McCarthy was looking forward to on raceday was interacting with veterans, many of whom have had traumatic injuries during the course of their service.
“It’s going to be pretty cool being with all the veterans,” McCarthy said ahead of the race. “Many of them have only one leg or prosthetics. Tom and I were just talking about it and we plan to do all sorts of interviews with them along the way.”
