Patrick Clancy, a father of three from Massachusetts, recently completed the Boston Marathon in honor of his three late children – Cora, Dawson, and Callan. His wife, Lindsay Clancy, allegedly strangled their children in a fit of postpartum depression or psychosis. Patrick finished the marathon in just under four hours and raised over $75,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital. He wore a bright blue and orange Miles for Miracles jersey dedicated to his children and carried mementos of them with him throughout the 26.2-mile course.
This was Patrick’s first marathon, and he found training for the race to be therapeutic after the tragedy. He explained that his children were his motivation and purpose for participating in the event. Despite his name not being on his shirt, the crowd cheered him on, encouraging him to keep going. Patrick carried a tiny blue bow that belonged to his daughter Cora, as well as bracelets and handprints of his sons Dawson and Callan throughout the race. He also raised $77,062 for Boston Children’s Hospital, surpassing his goal of $65,000.
Throughout the marathon, Patrick wore his daughter’s bow and bracelets, keeping his children’s memories close to his heart. He carried a resin with his children’s handprints on it, a gift from Boston Children’s Hospital where Callan passed away. Patrick expressed forgiveness towards his wife, Lindsay, who is facing three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of their children. He has stated that he forgives her and wishes to leave it at that, despite having raised concerns about her mental health prior to the tragedy.
Lindsay Clancy, Patrick’s wife, pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and is currently receiving mental health treatment at Tewksbury State Hospital. Patrick has shared that he believed she was prescribed too many medications and had expressed concerns about her mental health to friends before the tragic events occurred. While Lindsay is undergoing treatment, Patrick has chosen to focus on honoring his children’s memories and raising funds for the hospital where Callan spent his last days.
Patrick Clancy’s emotional journey to complete the Boston Marathon in memory of his children has captured the hearts of many. He has used his grief and loss as motivation to make a positive impact by raising funds for a children’s hospital and bringing awareness to mental health struggles, particularly in the context of postpartum depression. Despite his personal tragedy, Patrick’s determination, forgiveness, and dedication to keeping his children’s memories alive serves as an inspiring example of resilience and strength in the face of unimaginable loss.
