VIDEO: MARTIN RICHARD FOUNDATION HOLDS IN-PERSON MR8K RACE AT BOSTON LANDING

WCVB CHANNEL 5

Close to 1,000 people participated in the fourth annual MR8K race, which is held in honor of Boston Marathon bombing victim Martin Richard.

The 5-mile race was held Saturday at Boston Landing. The start/finish line was outside Warrior Ice Arena, the Boston Bruins' practice facility.

The Martin Richard Foundation decided to hold an in-person event this year after the 2020 MR8K was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Richard, 8, was the youngest of the three victims killed in the bombings at the Boston Marathon finish line on April 15, 2013.

Dave McGillivray, the race director of the Boston Marathon, helped produce the racecourse through his company, DMSE Sports, Inc.

"Being involved on that day, it's very important to me, personally, to have us recognize Martin for what he stood for: 'No more hurting people, peace,'" McGillivray said. "And I think that resonates with all of us today, what's going on in the world, and I think it's important to keep reminding people that we have to do good. We have to give back. It's amazing what the Richard family has done to turn such a negative into such a positive, and that's being displayed here in this race."

The Martin Richard Foundation established the MR8K in 2018 as its signature annual fundraising event.

More than 2,000 people participated in the inaugural race at TD Garden and the 2019 event at Boston Landing, which resulted in a $100,000 donation to McLean Hospital's LEADER program to support first responders.