Philly runners will race Broad Street next month 'With Love' to Boston

Philadelphia's big race next month, the Blue Cross Broad Street Run on May 5, was already going to have special significance for its 40,000 runners because of its proximity in time to the Boston Marathon bombings.

But race sponsors yesterday indelibly linked the two racing events and their cities when they released a new logo with the phrase "From Philly to Boston with Love" that each runner will be given to wear during the race. Race sponsor Independence Blue Cross (IBC) and logo designer Cadient Group also donated $10,000 each to The One Fund Boston, which Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino set up to help victims of the bombings nine days ago.

"It is important to honor those affected at the upcoming Blue Cross Broad Street Run," IBC President and CEO Daniel J. Hilferty said Wednesday. "We encourage our fellow Philadelphians to join in our efforts to show support for our neighbors in Boston by using the 'From Philly to Boston with Love' logo, and donating to The One Fund Boston."

Mayor Michael Nutter, who helped announce the new logo and its tie-in to the Broad Street Run, said its design — which includes images of the Liberty Bell and a four-leaf clover within the words and a backdrop of a heart — show the passions that both cities share.

"Bostonians have come together to help one another and Philadelphia admires their strength," Nutter said. "We've created 'From Philly to Boston with Love' to express our support for Boston, a city that has a distinctive culture, a passion for sports, and a profound historical significance in the American story: like Philadelphia."

For more information on 'From Philly to Boston with Love,' visit the Blue Cross Broad Street Run Facebook page. To find out more about making a donation to The One Fund Boston, visit www.onefundboston.org.