Airline Provides Florida Trip For Boston Marathon Bombing Survivors
BOSTON (CBS) – As the first phase of the Boston Marathon bombing trial comes to a close, some of the survivors received a much needed and much appreciated break.
They were treated to Wednesday's Red Sox spring training game, courtesy of the team and JetBlue airlines.
As they got ready to leave Boston, several of the survivors told WBZ-TV the trip is a welcome distraction from the trial.
"It's nice to get away," said Celeste Corcoran, who lost both legs in the bombing.
Her daughter, Sydney, who was also injured in the blasts, added that "It's a great escape. I think it's perfect timing."
The Corcorans arrived at Logan Airport before dawn with their service dogs, looking forward to a day away.
And it's all because of a photo of a group of Marathon bombing survivors in front of Fenway Park's Green Monster.
"We just wanted to show our Red Sox pride, and for them to recognize that and love it, we're just through the roof right now, we're so excited," Sydney Corcoran said.
The group entered the photo in a JetBlue sweepstakes called #ShowUsYourRedSox. Even though it didn't win the random drawing, the airline and the Red Sox decided to treat the group to today's spring training game against Toronto in sunny Fort Myers, Fla.
"We love doing stuff together. It's forced friendships, but they're good friendships and we'll have a great day today," said Roseann Sdoia, who also lost one of her legs on in 2013.
JetBlue's Ronda Ivy McLeod said it is an important time to give the survivors something to take their mind off the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
"I know it means a lot to them, just to get together after such a trying time," McLeod said.
Wednesday's trip comes as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev stands trial for the 2013 bombings. Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday after the defense rested on Tuesday.
Some of the survivors have testified, all of them have been touched by it.
Marc Fucarile, who lost his leg during the bombing, said the Florida trip will serve as a welcome distraction from the trial.
"It's great to have your mind somewhere else other than the testimony of your friends that were hurt that day, and reliving the people we lost that day, and hearing the traumatic stories," said Fucarile.
Sdoia said the trip is especially well-timed with the second anniversary of the bombings approaching.
"Especially with the anniversary coming up it's nice to do these fun things and take your mind off of what's going on right now and enjoy each other," adds Sdoia.
Over a 1,000 people submitted photos for the contest. The winner is a woman from New Hampshire.
But the Marathon survivors and their families feel like winners, too. And by the way, the temperature in Fort Myers today is in the 80s.
"Between Jet Blue and the Red Sox Foundation, I just can't thank them enough," said Celeste Corcoran.
