MARATHON EDITION
Vol. 26 | No. 8 | April 16, 2025
IT ALL STARTS HERE!
COMMEMORATIVE
HFD’s Sayles runs for Respite
HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT
Wheel power
2025 ISSUE
Danahy leads adaptive volunteers By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
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Conor Sayles, shown leading the Hopkinton Fire Department team onto the court during last month’s Battle of the Badges Dodgeball Tournament, is running the Boston Marathon for the Michael Lisnow Respite Center.
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Sayles | 4
PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer rom the start of his career a decade ago, Conor Sayles has had two passions: being a firefighter and giving back to his community through
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Alex Danahy poses in front of a poster at the Hopkinton Public Library recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Boston Marathon’s wheelchair division.
lex Danahy has never been one to seek the spotlight. But the 34-year-old has become more comfortable with moving forward as the leader of the volunteers for the Boston Marathon’s adaptive athlete divisions as 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the wheelchair division. “I prefer to be the background character,” he said in a recent interview with the Independent. “But it’s also a good thing to get out of a comfort zone.”
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HOP K I N TON The S TA RT of something extraordinary
Danahy | 10
INSIDE Page 5: O’Brien, Cann among wave starters Page 8: HCA, 26.2 host marathon events Page 16: Benincaso races for Respite Center Page 21: McCann returns after Ironman effort Page 22: Panigrahi seeks Six Star medal Page 23: Stevenson back seeking ‘redemption’ Page 26: After soccer, Wolf turns to running