Runner raises autism awareness
Sebastian, Florida runner Zach Stambaugh — an athlete on the autism spectrum — joined hundreds for a key Boston Marathon training run to promote autism inclusion in sport (sebastiandaily.com). The training push is part of the wider buildup to Boston 2026 and highlights community‑level inclusion efforts ahead of race day (sebastiandaily.com).
The March 21, 2026 training session covered 20 miles of the official Boston course and drew an estimated 300–350 adaptive runners. (boston25news.com) Organizers ran the workout through the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, which has partnered with the Boston Marathon adaptive program since the early 2000s and set a $500,000 fundraising goal for this year. (boston25news.com) Sebastian’s Zachary (Zach) Stambaugh is a returning adaptive marathon athlete who completed the 2025 Boston Marathon and appears on Dougie’s Team fundraising leaderboards with $1,956.25 raised. (specialolympicsflorida.org) Foundation staff and participants said many adaptive runners flew in from across the country for the 20‑mile run to rehearse course hills and logistics a month before the 130th Boston Marathon in April 2026. (boston25news.com) The Flutie Foundation notes it has donated more than $30 million to schools and programs serving people with autism while expanding adaptive-run supports and guide‑runner resources at Boston events. (boston25news.com)
