Avon’s Michael and Haleigh Guerrera were part of the Inspiration Team for the 2022 Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon. (Photo courtesy FOX 61 )
AVON, Oct. 8, 2022 — Each year, the Eversource Hartford Marathon selects runners to be members of the Inspiration Team, a group of athletes that encourage and empower others through their resilience and perseverance.
Avon’s Haleigh and Michael Guerrera were one of 12 athletes selected to the Inspiration Team for Saturday’s Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon.
Michael and Haleigh were training together for their first marathon last spring when Haleigh started having complications at 23 weeks pregnant. Michael supported Haleigh in the hospital while training and finished his first marathon, inspired by his wife and unborn son.
Rory was born premature at 27 weeks and showed his parents incredible strength to survive during the six days of his life at the Connecticut Children’s NICU (newborn intensive care unit) in Hartford.
Rory’s fight motivates them to push forward every day and despite the devasting loss, they successfully ran the half marathon on Saturday in his honor. They finished the 13.1 mile race in 2:20.47.
Haleigh and Michael were interviewed by FOX 61 before Saturday’s race.
