After waking up early Tuesday morning haunted by horrific bombing of the Boston Marathon, a Raleigh resident who finished the race a mere 10 minutes before the explosions decided he had to do something to help the victims of the blasts. The result of Kaz Yahyapour’s nightmares—the Boston Memorial Run. 

Thousands of people gathered at Moore Square Sunday afternoon before running a three-mile track through downtown Raleigh to show support for all of those affected by the bombing. Participants ranged from children who had never run more than a mile to seasoned marathon runners, some of whom ran in this year’s Boston Marathon.

Yahyapour, who identified himself first as a runner, then as the event’s organizer, said he thought a memorial run was the best way to honor the victims, whom he frequently pointed out are also runners.

“We needed something to show the whole world that runners are resilient people and we will not stop,” Yahyapour said.

Yahyapour attributed the success of the event, which was put together in six days, to the help of “a lot of good people.” 

Several local businesses sponsored the event, including Tobacco Road Marathon and Tir na nOg, which donated 10 percent of all sales Sunday to the victims of the bombing.

According to Paula O’Neal, owner of RunRaleigh Races and friend of Yahyapour, 100 percent of the proceeds from the event, which came mainly in the form of donations, raffle ticket sales and T-shirt sales, will be given to the victims and their families. 

The official Boston Memorial Run shirts, which were being sold for $10, sold out within two hours. O’Neal said another batch of shirts will be printed by mid-week and will be available for purchase at Capital RunWalk in Cameron Village.

As of Sunday afternoon, organizers of the event did not know how much money they had raised and still unsure about how they are going to get the money they raised to those in need. However, O’Neal made sure to specify, “All proceeds are being funneled toward Boston.”

Before the race Yahyapour, who finished his ninth consecutive Boston Marathon Monday, led the crowd in a chant, yelling, “Boston! Boston! Boston, be strong!” 

Yahyapour then encouraged the thousands of people in the audience to “keep running,” and he intends to follow his own advice. Yahyapour said he plans to return to Boston next year to continue his streak.