Marlborough Marathon Runner Providing Hope to Families

(April 2014) – Iesha M. and Martha Sesnovich of Marlborough may come from different backgrounds, but this spring they are both taking steps to reach their dreams. And while they may never meet, they are supporting each other on this journey.

Iesha is a determined young woman who realizes the value of hard work. Her future is looking bright but it wasn’t always this way for Iesha. When she was 15, she worked through difficult times of being pregnant and going to school. Then she learned to balance motherhood with her studies. Iesha didn’t give up; instead, she pushed through and earned her high school diploma.

After graduating from high school, her relationship with her family became strained. Iesha wanted a better life for herself and made the difficult choice to leave her family and enter a shelter with her son, a time she calls one of the hardest struggles she needed to overcome.

Iesha persevered through the difficult time of living in a shelter and found a way to move her life forward. With the help of Project Hope, she participated in a 12 week job training program. Within weeks of graduation, Tufts Health Plan hired Iesha where she has now worked for over 2 years.

This year Martha Sesnovich of Marlborough will line up in Hopkinton to run the 118th Boston Marathon on April 21st as part of Project Hope’s Marathon. The 2014 Project Hope Marathon Team is 52 runners strong from all over the country, and includes two runners from Ireland. The Project Hope team has run and raised an impressive amount of miles and dollars to date. They have their sights on exceeding the team’s goal of $250,000 by Marathon Monday. Every dollar they raise provides vital resources for Project Hope programs which change the lives of young women like Iesha.

Iesha bettered her life with help from programs like Project Hope, but it was her own determination and wisdom coupled with that support that paved the way to her success. Martha Sesnovich is determined to help her do just that.

To support the Project Hope Marathon Team and women like Iesha, visit http://www.crowdrise.com/ProjectHope2014BostonMarathon/fundraiser/prohope.

For more information about Project Hope, please visit www.prohope.org.