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Ray Allen's Mom Running Boston Marathon For Joslin Diabetes Center

BOSTON (CBS) - The mother of Celtics guard Ray Allen is running in her third Boston Marathon on Monday in honor of her grandson.

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Flo Allen is running for the Joslin Diabetes Center, who cared for her grandson Walker. Walker was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was 17 months old.

"It's special for me because Joslin really has given Walker the best care possible," said Allen. "And I didn't want to be the grandmother who sat on the sidelines."

Walker is now 5 years old.

"Everyone said, 'Ms. Allen, you are crazy,'" Allen said. "I am crazy in love with my grandson, and I want him to know if I could trade places with him, I would, so that's why I'm running my third Marathon."

Allen described how her grandson has been an inspiration for her.

"He's also been an inspiration to me and teaching Grandma how to take better care of herself, because I see so many athletes out here today with challenges, and my motto is 'Keep it moving.' Don't make excuses. Just get up off the sofa and just keep it moving," said Allen.

WBZ-TV is the only local station with live wire-to-wire coverage of the 2012 Boston Marathon on Monday, April 16th.

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