University President Jim Ryan ran the duration of the Boston Marathon’s 26.2 miles wearing a navy shirt with the last names of the victims of the Nov. 13 shooting and the words “U.Va. strong” — Ryan donned this tank in honor of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D'Sean Perry.
“Tomorrow, I am running the #BostonMarathon to honor the lives of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D'Sean Perry,” Ryan tweeted.
Ryan said he wanted to honor the victims by wearing their names in order to keep their memories alive. He said the three men were exceptional students and athletes.
Chandler, Davis and Perry were all members of the University football team at the time of the shooting. Chandler was a frequent jokester and dancer, Davis was a role model to his younger siblings and Perry was an avid painter and artist.
Ryan ran the marathon just days after the blue and white spring football game — the University’s first official football game since the shooting.
Ryan said he disliked running as a child, but that he developed a passion for it after running frequently. Since he became University president, Ryan hosts weekly Run With Jim events, during which all University students are invited to run with Ryan every Thursday morning that he’s in Charlottesville.
“I grew up playing team sports, and the only time we ran was to warm up or if we were in trouble,” Ryan said in a statement to the Cavalier Daily. “I changed my mind when I got older and credit my wife, Katie, for introducing me to running when we were in law school together. She helped me learn to love it, which I still do.”
Over 30,000 runners participated in the marathon from over 100 countries, and the estimate for fundraising from the race is $40 million. The race is the world’s oldest marathon.
In the past, Ryan has supported various causes during his marathons, ranging from veterans to nurses. He said he plans to run the Boston Marathon again next year and that his personal goal is to run 20 in a row. This race was Ryan’s twelfth consecutive Boston Marathon.
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