Charity run honors memory of alum

Boston College's color went from maroon to red, at least for one day, as students, friends, and supporters came out Saturday morning to participate in the first annual Red Bandana 5K Run. Gasson Hall was filled with red balloons and participants in red bandanas gearing up for the race, which was a fundraiser for The Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust.

In 2003, the Carney family made an endowment to the Volunteer and Service Learning Center (VSLC) in honor of Welles Remy Crowther, BC '99, after hearing about his heroism during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Crowther worked as an equity trader in the Twin Towers, as well as a volunteer firefighter. After the first plane struck the towers, Crowther's immediate instinct was to go out and help others who were trapped inside.

Putting a red bandana over his mouth to block the smoke, Crowther courageously led panicked people towards the stairs and exits. Crowther was on his way back up the south tower in more rescue efforts when it collapsed.

His mother realized that the person in the red bandana was likely to have been her son because she knew he always carried a red bandana, something that Welles' father as a firefighter carried as well.

Daniel Ponsetto,VSLC director, helped to organize the event with the Crowther family. The idea came to them when they were discussing a group of Crowther's friends who ran in red bandanas every year in the New York City Marathon to honor Welles.

"Even though I never had a chance to know Welles, I was thrilled and honored to have our center associated with his legacy," said Ponsetto.

Crowther was an economics major at BC, as well as a lacrosse player, and his story inspired over 200 people to come and run in the race. In addition to the current students of BC and alumni who were classmates of Crowther, the entire BC lacrosse team came to show their support for the event. Some lacrosse players worked as volunteers, with others participating in the race.

Other participants included people who learned about the event through either flyers or friends at BC. Several people from Crowther's hometown, Nyack, N.Y., drove up for the weekend to run in the race.

Karen and Tim O'Shea, friends of Crowther's mother, said that they get teary-eyed just hearing about selfless and heroic acts of Welles. As runners, "We wanted to show our support for the family."

Many current students who ran in the race never got the chance to meet Crowther, but were still deeply moved by the red bandana story. "I can't imagine how his mother must have felt, putting two and two together to figure out the identity of her son," said Melissa Linda, GSSW '06.

"It's great to see the BC community come out and support one of our own," said Kelleen Forlizzi, A&S '07.

The Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust gives an annual award called The Birchwood Award to two Nyack High School seniors who have demonstrated academic and athletic achievement and have shown strong commitment to services for the community.

The trust has also donated or given awards to other institutions such as BC and The Summit Speech School. The race was very successful and although the final number is not set, Ponsetto estimates that the event has raised several thousand dollars.

"The heart of what we're [VSLC] about is to create opportunities for others. Welles is the ultimate example of service to others," said Ponsetto.