Kirkland Tutor Harte Outpaces Thousands

Amidst the flurry of 12,000 runners at yesterday's 102nd Boston Marathon, Harvard was represented not only by a fleet-footed tutor but also by two students who were running for more than the finish line.

Timothy C. Harte '90, a 30 year-old resident tutor in Kirkland House finished 51st overall, with a time of 2:30:52.

A veteran of past Boston and New York marathons as well as former captain of Harvard's indoor and outdoor track teams, Harte said it was the first time he had not had to stop and walk during the Boston Marathon because of aching quads.

Harte said his success this year was due partially to strategy.

"I went out intelligently because I wanted to keep on a certain pace," Harte said.

Running for a Cure

Jamie R. Vance '01 and Benjamin W. Collins '98 ran as participants in the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC).

This was the 9th annual DFMC to raise money for the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research.

The Dana Farber Cancer Institute is affiliated with the Harvard Medical Teaching Facility in Boston.

Vance, who had never run competitively, ran her first marathon in the impressive time of 3:41:04.

She learned about the DFMC through her father, who works for the founders of the Claudia Adams Barr Program.

"I saw how dedicated [they] were to the cause...and it seems like everyone knows someone touched by cancer," Vance said.

Vance said that running for such a good cause made the experience rewarding.

"Running for DFMC was totally amazing; peoplewere always cheering me on over the entire way."

DFMC runners are paired with young cancerpatients, who cheer the runners on at thetwenty-fifth mile mark in Kenmore Square.

Vance said hearing the children cheer her oninspired her to make a break for the finish line.

"When you get to 25 [mile mark], it's the mostamazing thing. I was thinking I have got to walkfor awhile, but just seeing the kids energizedme," Vance said.

She said some of the kids walk or run withtheir partners, and explained how one runner evenstopped and walked the last mile with her partner.

Vance raised a total of $3,000.

Meanwhile, Collins finished in 4:00:29. Hefollowed in the footsteps of his grandfather anduncle, both marathon runners, and raised $5,000 inmemory of his father.

"I wanted to do something for DFMC and I wantedto do the marathon," Collins said.

Collins said he looks forward to running forDFMC again next year.

The DFMC has raised over $4.8 million in itsfirst eight years and projected donations for thisyear are easily expected to top a million.

The DFMC was started by a Harvard first-yearwho was trying to find a way to remember his goodfriend Seth Feldman, who died of brain cancer.

Michael H. Silverstein '92 went to high schoolwith Feldman, and watched him struggle with cancerfor nearly four years.

After two periods of remissions and twosurgeries, Feldman, an eighteen year-old Dartmouthfreshman, died of brain cancer over Christmasbreak in 1988. His treatment included time at theDana Farber Cancer Institute.

"He was a great guy, soft-spoken but very warmand friendly," Silverstein said.

Greg A. Gross, who helped get DFMC off theground, retold Feldman's wishes for his closefriend.

"Think of me, Mike, when you graduate fromHarvard and think of me when you finish themarathon."

Both Silverstein and Feldman had volunteeredfor the Boston Marathon.

Although Silverstein remembered Feldman'swords, he struggled to find a way to remember hisfriend.

Silverstein struggled with his work at thebeginning of the second semester of his first yearat Harvard and finally came to the Dana FarberInstitute looking for some way to commemorate hisfriend in a tangible fashion.

"He had a sincere, deep understanding, borneout of friendship and compassion to fill thatvoid," Gross said. "He needed to roll up hissleeves and do something."

Gross, who was working in the developmentaloffice at Dana Farber suggested that Silversteinvolunteer for non-profit organizations in thearea.

But the idea that finally stuck was related toSilverstein's running days at Newton South HighSchool and Brown Junior High.

"I found out he was a cross-country runner inhigh school and when I learned that, I told himthat I ran in this crazy marathon every year inthe back of the pack," Gross said.

Silverstein jumped at the idea and Gross helpedhim set up strategy for raising funds as well tocommemorate Feldman.

Silverstein, although competitive in highschool, had just over four months to train, andimmediately gave his running coach from BrownJunior High in Newton a call.

The coach, Jack W. Fultz, had been an athleteliaison with the Boston Athletic Association since1986 not only was able to give Silverstein'seffort greater media coverage, but also an experttraining.

Fultz's training proved invaluable, asSilverstein was able to finish in the 3:30s.

In its first year, DFMC raised $101,000 with atotal of 19 runners.

Silverstein is awed by the success of the DFMC.

"This is simply unbelievable; it's reallyinspiring," Silverstein said as he observed thehundreds of runners and their families at the DFMCreception for the participants

"Running for DFMC was totally amazing; peoplewere always cheering me on over the entire way."

DFMC runners are paired with young cancerpatients, who cheer the runners on at thetwenty-fifth mile mark in Kenmore Square.

Vance said hearing the children cheer her oninspired her to make a break for the finish line.

"When you get to 25 [mile mark], it's the mostamazing thing. I was thinking I have got to walkfor awhile, but just seeing the kids energizedme," Vance said.

She said some of the kids walk or run withtheir partners, and explained how one runner evenstopped and walked the last mile with her partner.

Vance raised a total of $3,000.

Meanwhile, Collins finished in 4:00:29. Hefollowed in the footsteps of his grandfather anduncle, both marathon runners, and raised $5,000 inmemory of his father.

"I wanted to do something for DFMC and I wantedto do the marathon," Collins said.

Collins said he looks forward to running forDFMC again next year.

The DFMC has raised over $4.8 million in itsfirst eight years and projected donations for thisyear are easily expected to top a million.

The DFMC was started by a Harvard first-yearwho was trying to find a way to remember his goodfriend Seth Feldman, who died of brain cancer.

Michael H. Silverstein '92 went to high schoolwith Feldman, and watched him struggle with cancerfor nearly four years.

After two periods of remissions and twosurgeries, Feldman, an eighteen year-old Dartmouthfreshman, died of brain cancer over Christmasbreak in 1988. His treatment included time at theDana Farber Cancer Institute.

"He was a great guy, soft-spoken but very warmand friendly," Silverstein said.

Greg A. Gross, who helped get DFMC off theground, retold Feldman's wishes for his closefriend.

"Think of me, Mike, when you graduate fromHarvard and think of me when you finish themarathon."

Both Silverstein and Feldman had volunteeredfor the Boston Marathon.

Although Silverstein remembered Feldman'swords, he struggled to find a way to remember hisfriend.

Silverstein struggled with his work at thebeginning of the second semester of his first yearat Harvard and finally came to the Dana FarberInstitute looking for some way to commemorate hisfriend in a tangible fashion.

"He had a sincere, deep understanding, borneout of friendship and compassion to fill thatvoid," Gross said. "He needed to roll up hissleeves and do something."

Gross, who was working in the developmentaloffice at Dana Farber suggested that Silversteinvolunteer for non-profit organizations in thearea.

But the idea that finally stuck was related toSilverstein's running days at Newton South HighSchool and Brown Junior High.

"I found out he was a cross-country runner inhigh school and when I learned that, I told himthat I ran in this crazy marathon every year inthe back of the pack," Gross said.

Silverstein jumped at the idea and Gross helpedhim set up strategy for raising funds as well tocommemorate Feldman.

Silverstein, although competitive in highschool, had just over four months to train, andimmediately gave his running coach from BrownJunior High in Newton a call.

The coach, Jack W. Fultz, had been an athleteliaison with the Boston Athletic Association since1986 not only was able to give Silverstein'seffort greater media coverage, but also an experttraining.

Fultz's training proved invaluable, asSilverstein was able to finish in the 3:30s.

In its first year, DFMC raised $101,000 with atotal of 19 runners.

Silverstein is awed by the success of the DFMC.

"This is simply unbelievable; it's reallyinspiring," Silverstein said as he observed thehundreds of runners and their families at the DFMCreception for the participants