‘We Will Be Boston Strong’

“Live in the moment, plan for the future and enjoy the gift of another day ever since April 15.”

It’s the mantra that has helped Jack Foley cope with the tragedy and heartache he experienced a year ago at the Boston Marathon. Foley, Lehigh’s director of sports medicine and an athletic trainer, was a volunteer first responder at the finish line when the bombs exploded. He was among the first to care for victims with severe wounds.

People have said to me, 'I bet you wish you hadn't been there,''' Foley said in an interview with ESPN following the bombings. “But I'm glad I was there, I'm glad I engaged and I'm glad I did the right thing. I'm proud to be an athletic trainer.''

Brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were accused of carrying out the bombings on April 15, 2013, that killed three and injured more than 260 people, as well as the slaying of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer during a manhunt. Tamerlan was killed during a shootout with police. Dzhokhar faces the death penalty if convicted of some of the charges against him.

Foley’s story has been shared by numerous media outlets, including SHAPE magazine. For his heroism, Foley was honored in January with a Philadelphia Sports Writers Award.

Foley will return to the finish line for this year’s Boston Marathon on April 21. He admits to being a bit nervous. “Something I’ve learned from being a competitive athlete and working with athletes at Lehigh is that if you don’t have nerves in the belly, then it’s not worth the effort.” He complimented the Boston Athletic Association and feels good about the preparation for this year’s race.

“I need to do this to honor those who were affected,” Foley said. “I want to represent the first responders who were there on that fateful day and all the first responders across the country. We will be Boston strong.”