Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh presented the final finisher of the Boston Marathon with a medal during a ceremony in City Hall Tuesday afternoon, calling 39-year-old Maickel Melamed, who has a form of muscular dystrophy and crossed the finish line 20 hours after the race began, “an inspiration.”
“The Boston Marathon is such an incredible race of stories,” said Walsh. “This morning, on the radio, when I heard Maickel’s story of loving Boston and being treated at Children’s Hospital, where I was treated as a little boy, I felt it appropriate to ask Maickel to come in today and recognize him.”
Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans presented Melamed with two T-shirts.
Melamed took his final steps on the 26.2-mile course with cheering volunteers and supporters by his side just after 4 a.m. Tuesday, according to race officials. He battled soaking rain and blustery winds along the way.
“The message here is that love is much more powerful than death,” said Melamed, who received the medal from his wheelchair, and said he was hurting Tuesday but looking forward to lunch. “It was real tough, but it was marvelous.”
“The Boston Marathon is such an incredible race of stories,” said Walsh. “This morning, on the radio, when I heard Maickel’s story of loving Boston and being treated at Children’s Hospital, where I was treated as a little boy, I felt it appropriate to ask Maickel to come in today and recognize him.”
Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans presented Melamed with two T-shirts.
Melamed took his final steps on the 26.2-mile course with cheering volunteers and supporters by his side just after 4 a.m. Tuesday, according to race officials. He battled soaking rain and blustery winds along the way.
“The message here is that love is much more powerful than death,” said Melamed, who received the medal from his wheelchair, and said he was hurting Tuesday but looking forward to lunch. “It was real tough, but it was marvelous.”
