As a child, a perfect Patriots’ Day for Erica Hudson was one spent along the Boston Marathon running route in Framingham. Every year, her family and relatives who lived there at the time spent the holiday cheering on runners as they entered mile six of their journey to Boston. An appreciation for the race, admiration for its runners, and a dream to run it herself one day, took hold of young Erica. This year, she will achieve that goal and graduate from spectator to participant, when she takes her place at the starting line to support the mission of The Home for Little Wanderers.
While Erica is an avid runner, with five half marathons and a 20-miler under her belt, this will be her first marathon, and with family connections to The Home, her most meaningful road race to date.
Erica’s great grandmother’s three siblings became residents of The Home after their mother suddenly passed away during the Great Influenza epidemic in 1918, and then their father, in early 1922. At the time, her great grandmother Rose was 17 years old, and considered old enough to be independent, but her siblings were placed in The Home’s care until she married. Her husband, Erica’s great grandfather, then legally adopted the siblings so they could reunite and live together as a family.
Growing up, Erica would hear her grandfather mention this story in passing, but it wasn’t until she began her pursuit of a spot on The Home’s running team that she had the opportunity to explore this piece of her family’s history in depth.
“Learning more about the timeline of all of this has been amazing,” says Erica. “It has given me insight into my family’s legacy and some of the trauma that was experienced.”
In addition to this special connection with the organization, Erica’s passion for advocating for children and the disadvantaged drew her to partner with The Home. She credits her mother, who is a physical therapist for children with disabilities, for showing her the importance of advocating for others from a young age.
“It is so important that we remember everyone has something to offer… and that everyone deserves to be surrounded by a feeling of belonging that they deserve,” says Erica. “It has been built into my foundation to want to care and speak up for others. In my adulthood, I think I am finally learning how to do that. This marathon is one of the first steps for me, to build on my desire to help.”
Outside of her daily work as a graphic designer, Erica enjoys journaling, photography, traveling, and running to the Esplanade from her nearby neighborhood of Beacon Hill.
Want to help Erica cross her fundraising finish line? Click here to donate today.
