On April 17, the prestigious Boston Marathon will take place for the 127th time in history. This year also marks the 10-year anniversary of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings that shook the world! People’s lives were changed forever near the finish line of the race on that day. The bombing killed three and injured hundreds both physically and mentally. Richmond Hill resident, Regina Lutskiy, who is a certified personal trainer and endurance athlete, was one of them.

Regina is an Ironman (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, 26.2 mile run—yes all at once). Before she became interested in running, Regina weighed approximately 300 pounds. Today she has completed over 100 races. The first marathon Regina ran was the 2010  Boston Marathon.

Regina lives with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) since the event, suffering from flashbacks, dissociations, nightmares, and panic attacks. Even before she decided to compete, the Boston Marathon was one of her favorite days each year. She has not been able to return to that iconic finish line spot since that fateful day. After working with her treatment team for nearly a decade, she believes she is ready to conquer her fears and cross that finish line. “I want to take that finish line back and make the marathon a happy and safe place again,” Regina says.

Regina is asking for our support. She is raising money for the Boston Athletic Academy. “They do great work for a cause that’s very close to my heart,” she explains. Their mission is to educate and train underprivileged student-athletes in an environment that recognizes their culture, language, customs, and most importantly, their growth potential as individuals. “Growing up, I lived in an underprivileged community and there weren’t many opportunities for my brother and I to play sports or hang out in a safe place. It wasn’t until we received financial aid to go to a private school that we began to learn skills and have opportunities to learn sports and find what we were good at.” Many of the children Regina and her brother went to elementary school with didn’t have those same kinds of opportunities that their mother was able to give to them. “It makes me sad. I believe all children deserve an equal chance and this year, I am running for them.”

Regina, we wish you the best of luck as you conquer your personal fears, and we thank you for your service to those who are in need of a hand up. Richmond Hill, let’s show Regina how proud we are to watch her on April 17. Please consider donating HERE.