Former Patient Partner To Run Boston Marathon For Children's Hospital
BOSTON (CBS) - Most of the runners you'll see on Marathon Monday aren't running for an olive wreath, but for a cause.
Taylor Chin is one of those thousands of charity runners. This will be his first marathon and he's running for Children's Hospital. It's his way of giving back to the people who made his run possible.
The first time Taylor met his patient partner, Ben Westlake, he knew they already had a strong connection.
"It kind of reminds me where I was at that point," Taylor says. "He plays soccer, I play soccer."
Both love soccer, and both credit Boston Children's hospital for making them well.
"I get checked and get shots and have medicine," says Ben.
"I was treated at Children's Hospital when I was two years old for Kawaski Disease and the care I got there has helped me immensely," says Taylor.
Now these two are a team and their goal is tackling the Boston Marathon.
"When I was 8 years old to 11 or 12, I was a patient partner like Ben is now and I was paired with the same runner for three or four years, so I got to see firsthand what it was like," said Taylor. "Also, I got incredible care so it made sense to run for Children's Hospital."
Ben has his own fundraising page.
"We are raising money to help the kids at Children's Hospital to feel better, and I've raised $3343 for Children's Hospital," Ben says.
Having Ben along for the ride pushes Taylor when he needs it the most.
"You get a lot of time to yourself to think and having motivation, having Ben as my partner, means a lot," Taylor says.
Even if his partner doesn't quite "get" what he's up against.
Ben: "It's pretty hard because it's a 2-mile run."
Kate: "2 miles? It's 26 miles."
Ben: "No, it's 2 miles."
Two... or 26... the goal is still the same. To raise money to help kids just like them… for a place both agree is worth the effort, and all the miles.
"They really, really do help you and they care about the people who come there," says Ben.
