Some losses hit harder than any scoreboard. While UNC’s HC Bill Belichick is already battling the storm of a 3–5 season, he’s facing a deeper, emotional struggle to lose one of his team’s “fearless partners.” Susan Hurley, the visionary behind a charity platform that helps raise funds through athletic events, passed away Saturday at the age of 61. The entire Boston community, including the former Patriots HC, couldn’t hide their emotions.

On Monday, expressing grief, the Bill Belichick Foundation shared a heartfelt message on their IG story. “Heartbreaking news for so many of us. One of our fearless partners, Susan Hurley, has passed away.” The caption was alongside a post, where Hurley was happily running the Boston Marathon.”Susan was an instrumental part of our Boston Marathon program, helping train and support our team of runners each year. We will miss you, Susan.” The veteran leader passed away after battling ovarian cancer for 4 years.

Susan Hurley’s platform, ‘CharityTeams,’ helped hundreds of runners as well as nonprofit organizations raise over $42M. Beyond fundraising, she contributed to community projects like the new “Gronk Playground.” Apart from this project, she was also instrumental in asking Kraft to sign Rob Gronkowski to a one-day contract so the player could officially retire as a Patriot. To cap it off, she was also the driving force behind the annual CharityTeams Superhero 17 Training Run, preparing runners for the Boston Marathon.

Once a Patriots cheerleader, she transformed into a powerhouse for charity runners, founding CharityTeams in 2008. Her vision turned races not only into fundraising machines but also inspired thousands of first-time marathoners to push past doubt and believe, “You can do it.” Now, Susan’s charity platform will carry on under her sons, Max and Ryan McGillivray, and close associates, honoring the great woman’s promises to charities and runners alike. Losing her is a loss felt by many.

“We are heartbroken that Susan has left us,” said Bill and Denise Richard of the Martin Richard Foundation. “She was the driving force behind Team MR8, and we owe its continued success to her and all the charity runners she inspired. Henry knew of her passing before he started the New York Marathon and carried her in his heart all the way to Central Park. She will be missed.” Like Hurley, Belichick shared a close connection to the Boston Marathon through his foundation.

Bill Belichick and his emotional connection with a marathon runner

The foundation aims to provide coaching, mentorship, and financial support to student athletes. The current UNC HC’s foundation fields a team of runners, called #TeamBelichick, to participate in the race each year. Before the 2016 race, Bill Belichick was the emcee, celebrating his six racers during a gala night. The 6x Super Bowl champion made sure to focus on the accomplishments of his marathon team, which has raised about $33,000 for the foundation. His bond with one of the racers was personal.

Will DiTullio of Charlestown, who was running his fourth Boston Marathon in 2016, had never met Bill Belichick in person. Yet, he already had a bond with the UNC HC. DiTullio’s mother, Beverly, passed away at the age of 55, and Belichick wrote a letter to support DiTullio’s grieving father. Will wrote me a letter and asked me if I would write to his dad, and I did, expressing my sorrow for the passing of his wife,” said Belichick.

The letter had a lot of weight, since DiTullio’s father, also named Bill, and a Patriots fan, framed it and kept it in their Tampa house. The 2016 race also has another significant meaning for Will DiTullio. Bill Belichick even clicked a photo with his team’s runner and even let him try on the 2014 Super Bowl ring.