By Theresa Knapp

Each year the Town of Ashland receives a certain number of Invitational Entry Forms for the Boston Marathon. 

“Every year we receive 22 Invitational Entry Forms from the BAA [Boston Athletic Association] as a thank you for the town allowing the Marathon to go through town,” explained Executive Assistant Susan Robie, at the Aug. 16 meeting of the Select Board. 

Robie said the town typically distributes those entry forms to runners by giving 10 to the non-profit NORD (National Organization of Rare Diseases), and 12 to “interested parties” who contact her directly. 

Everyone who receives one of these bibs has to raise $3,000 which is then deposited into the town’s BAA Scholarship Fund to be disbursed twice a year to grant applicants. If all bibs are awarded, $66,000 is added to the fund each year.  

For the 2024 Marathon, the board agreed to follow the same process as in previous years and to review the process after the event to see if the town should continue its current arrangement with NORD. 

To enter the lottery for an Ashland bib, contact [email protected]. Robie will place the entries into the lottery, draw names randomly and place them on a waitlist, and distribute the bibs accordingly.