SOUTHWICK – In full uniform and combat boots, Southwick resident Tim Reardon marched the first 25.2 miles of the Boston Marathon on Monday. A member of the air national guard at Barnes Airport, Reardon began marching at 6 a.m. along with other members of the air national guard.
Approaching the last mile of the Boston Marathon, Reardon and a couple others decided to run the completion of the race.
Around 200 yards before the finish line, Reardon spotted two runners at the aid of another fellow runner who had appeared to collapse.
With Captain Charette of the army assisting, Reardon helped splash water on the man who had collapsed.
“Once he was good to go, we got him back up on his feet,” said Reardon.
Tim Reardon is seen on the far right, helping to carry an exhausted runner to the finish line at the Boston Marathon on Monday. (Photo from Dave Sutton)
An undergraduate student at UMass Amherst, Reardon said that his first reaction was to help the runner who collapsed.
“It was 100% instinctual to help him out,” said Reardon.
An avid runner himself, Reardon’s goal in the near future is to run the Boston Marathon. He loves the aspects of the running community and helping a fellow runner in need is just part of the process.
“I would do it for any runner,” said Reardon. “I would hope that someone would assist me (if in need).”
Reardon noted that he and his group certainly weren’t the only ones to help out someone at the Boston Marathon. With Reardon aspiring to run the 26.2 mile course, it will give him another opportunity to enjoy the running community and the unselfish persona that comes with it.
“They’ll (runners) drop everything to help someone out and at the end of the day, everyone goes home happy,” said Reardon. “I’ve always been someone who’s enjoyed helping people.”
