Finn Raises $5,700 for Dana Farber Cancer Institute

By Cary Shuman

Kristen Finn will be in the Winthrop High Hall of Fame one day for being one of the best softball pitchers in school history and for being part of a very special era in Winthrop girls basketball when the Lady Vikings went 21-0 and almost laid claim to a state title.

A true scholar-athlete, Finn was also a cross country runner of note under longtime head coach Warren MacPhail. Finn was back running long distances Monday in the 120th Boston Marathon.

The 26-year-old Bates College (2012) graduate completed the 26.2-mile course in a time of 4 hours, 11 minutes. It was her first marathon and the effort was for a great cause.

“I always wanted to run a marathon,” said Finn. “I had run a couple of half marathons before and I figured if I was going to run one, it would be Boston, having grown up here and having watched the Marathon every year. I wanted to run this year and raise money for Dana Farber.”

Finn received $5,700 in donations that will go to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

The Finn family was out in full force on the Marathon route and at the finish line. Among the supporters were her parents, Peter and Marie Finn, her sister, Courtney Finn, brother, Paul Finn, along with other relatives and friends.

Kristen began training in December for the Marathon, increasing her distances as the race approached. She maintained her busy training regimen despite being a full-time student at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy (MCP), where she is studying to become a Physician’s Assistant (PA).

“I’m about to start my clinical rotations in May and I graduate next May,” said Finn, who worked as a research assistant and medical assistant before applying to PA school.

Finn played softball for four years and basketball for two years at Bates. She received her degree in Neuroscience.

Despite the rigorous 26-mile test from Hopkinton to Boston, Finn wasted no time in returning to her regular schedule. After celebrating with family and friends after the race, she was back in class Tuesday at MCP.

“I just want to thank everyone who supported me for Dana Farber – that was really awesome,” said Kristen. “I received a lot of help from a lot of people and that is great.”