Plymouth’s Amanda Stonely joins Boston Marathon team this year to support the Aquarium’s efforts to bring the ocean to area schoolchildren

All this season’s snow and cold is not dissuading Amanda Stonely from her quest to run the Boston Marathon.

“The weather has definitely been tricky, but I’ve learned that the hardest part is just getting out there,” said Stonely, 25, who grew up in Plymouth, attended Sacred Heart High School in Kingston, and now lives in South Boston. 

Stonely is one of 25 runners on the New England Aquarium’s Marathon team this year. Each runner is raising $5,000 each for the Aquarium’s community outreach program which brings tide pools and aquatic animals to 45,000 children in schools, day care centers, YMCAs, Boys and Girls clubs, and other community organizations in Greater Boston. The Aquarium is an official charity of the 118th Boston Marathon. To sponsor Stonely, click on the link: https://secure2.convio.net/neaq/site/Donation2?idb=0&df_id=3321&3321.donation=landing

“I don’t think any amount of preparedness for what April 21, 2014 will feel like will actually come close to the emotions I will experience that day,” she said. “I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to run the Boston Marathon especially after a year that affected the city so much.”

Stonely works in the Aquarium’s marketing department so participating on the team has added inspiration. “I always knew I was going to run the Boston Marathon,” said Stonely who also teaches yoga at Open Doors Yoga. The Aquarium has had a team participating for the last two years so she knew it would be worth her while to join this year. “As an ocean-lover and staff member at the Aquarium, I can think of no other organization I would rather support during my Boston Marathon run.”