FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2013 Boston Marathon Champion Lelisa Desisa to Gift His Championship Medal
to the City of Boston in Tribute to All Victims of the April 15 Tragedy
Tribute to be held on the Boston Common on June 23, 2013, at 10 a.m.
BOSTON, MA, June 18, 2013-John Hancock Financial and the Boston Athletic
Association today announced that the 2013 Boston Marathon champion, Lelisa
Desisa of Ethiopia, will gift his championship medal to the City of Boston,
on behalf of all Boston Marathon runners, to honor the victims and families
affected by the tragic events of April 15, 2013.
Desisa will present his medal to Mayor Thomas M. Menino on June 23, 2013,
at 10 a.m. on the Boston Common, near Charles Street. Desisa will make the
tribute after competing in the B.A.A. 10K, which begins at 8 a.m.
In a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Ethiopia last
month, Desisa announced his intention of returning to Boston to gift his
medal to the City.
"Less than two hours after I had crossed the finish line as this year’s
champion, my joy turned to sorrow as I learned the tragic news of the death
and the injury to so many innocent people. This day brought pain to many
families and tremendous sorrow into many homes," said Desisa. "As a gesture
of my solidarity with the victims of this senseless act of violence, I will
return to Boston and gift my medal to the people of Boston in honor and in
memory of those who suffered and those who died on that day.”
"My message to all of you is that sport should always be a source of
pleasure and enjoyment, healthy recreation, and positive competition. Sport
holds the power to unite people and to connect people from all over the
world with one another, allowing them the opportunity to share in their
common humanity and to celebrate the richness of our world’s cultural
diversity."
At the 2013 Boston Marathon, Desisa was among 32 athletes from 11 countries
competing on the John Hancock Elite Athlete Team for the 117th running of
the race.
"When the world turned its eyes to Boston in the days and weeks following
the marathon, the resiliency of our city, the courage of our first
responders, and the strength of the many survivors were on full display,"
Mayor Menino said. "Since then, countless acts of kindness and generosity
have lifted our spirits and inspired us. On behalf of the City of Boston,
we thank Lelisa for his thoughtful and moving gesture."
"Lelisa's return to Boston and his participation in the B.A.A. 10K will
mark yet another admirable gesture that we have been witness to in the
weeks following this year's Boston Marathon," said Tom Grilk, B.A.A.
Executive Director. "Lelisa's participation is itself a tribute to all
those affected by the events of April 15 and the aftermath, and we look
forward to welcoming and thanking him for his compassion."
"Lelisa is a remarkable young man whose symbolic gesture embodies the
heartfelt concern of so many people around the globe," said Rob Friedman,
head of Sponsorship and Event Marketing at John Hancock. "We are humbled
by his action and join him in respectfully honoring the victims of this
senseless tragedy."
About the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)
Established in 1897, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit
organization with a mission of managing athletic events and promoting a
healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.’s Boston
Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and the organization
manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and
year-round running programs. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the
Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is
part of the World Marathon Majors, along with the international marathons
in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. The 118th Boston
Marathon will be held on Monday, April 21, 2014. Nearly 50,000 runners will
participate in B.A.A. events in 2013.
About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation
John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife Financial, a leading
Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia,
Canada and the United States. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and
Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, the Company
offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth
management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and
distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its
subsidiaries were C$555 billion (US$547 billion) as at March 31, 2013.
Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE,
and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the
Internet at manulife.com.
The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of
the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers and
administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance,
mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and
other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John
Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and
YouTube.
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