By Stacy Schoonover
BU News Service
Chris Dobens
After raising $837,000 within a month of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and coining a catchphrase that would inspire millions worldwide, Boston Strong Co-Founder Chris Dobens still doesn’t have closure. So he’s running this year’s Boston Marathon.
“It’s a decision I made because I noticed everyone else was healing in different ways,” said Dobens, a Marketing Communication major at Emerson College. “Some had to run the marathon, some had to go to the spots where the bombs went off to face it. I never got closure from the incident because I immediately jumped to action. So this is my closure,” he said.
Within hours of the bombings two years ago, Dobens and his Resident Assistant at Emerson, Nick Reynolds, created the mantra “Boston Strong” in an Emerson College common room. Dobens said they wanted to help those affected by the bombing, and decided to create something that allowed people to donate money.
After putting their Boston Strong design on a t-shirt, they started selling them at $20 each with the goal of selling 100 shirts. Within a month, they raised almost $1 million, through printing the catchphrase on shirts, hats, signs, ribbons and advertisements.
Working with Nick was amazing because I already looked up to him,” Dobens said.
“I miss him so much. I really wish I could see him during the marathon because it’s the moment when we came together and did something. It’s something I won’t ever share with anyone else but him,” he said.
Since 2013, the pair revamped their shirts for the 2014 Boston Marathon by partnering up with an artist to add a different spin. They also created a Red Sox championship shirt, a New England Patriots championship shirt and a shamrock shirt for St. Patrick’s Day.
“A lot of the shirts may not have the same meaning because they symbolize different events, but the idea that Boston is a strong city in itself and that we are very resilient, especially when we are put down, is shown through the shirts,” Dobens said.
Dobens is running this year’s marathon with two of his Phi Alpha Tau fraternity brothers, but he said training has been emotional.
“I’ll start running and it’s normal and fine, and then there are those few songs on my playlist that come on and remind me of what happened,” Dobens said. “Crossing that finish line is going to be the most emotional part of this race because that will be the full circle for me.”
Once Dobens gets his closure, he still plans to devote himself to Boston Strong by starting an actual foundation someday. He said meeting survivors of the bombing and sharing stories and experiences with them really inspired him.
“Boston Strong has created a very positive impact on my life,” he said. “It’s made me feel very thankful for what I have, and thankful for the connections that I have. I feel in a very special place because of it.”