Hanscom Federal Credit Union Director Ray Phillips will reach amilestone this year when he completes his 17th Boston Marathon.

The race will mark his 100th marathon. A longtime memberof Team Hanscom, this year Phillips will be joined by HanscomFCU Sales Manager Mike Rzeszutek as part of the Credit Union Kidsat Heart fundraising effort to benefit the Boston Children'sHospital.

It has been a long road for the man who ran his first marathonat age 50 and completed a total of 11 races within the first twoyears. Living in the greater Boston area, Phillips dreamed ofrunning the Boston Marathon, but his four-hour finishing times didnot qualify him for a race number.

In 2000 he got his chance through Boston Children'sHospital, running to raise money for its foundation. Along the wayto his first race, he met his patient partner four year-old AndyMartin, Jr and his family.

Martin was born with spina bifida, a birth defect involving thespinal cord and has been a frequent patient at Children's, enduringmultiple surgeries and other treatments. Martin inspired Phillips,who recognized that a 26.2 mile run was nothing compared with whatthe child faced every day.

On race day, Martin would wait for Phillips at the top ofBoylston Street. “What took you so long?” became his refrain asPhillips carried him on his back, and later pushed him in awheelchair to the finish line.

Martin has kept each finishing medal, declaring they had won therace. When he turned 18, Martin completed the race himself in thewheelchair division, finishing the race in 2014 and 2015. Thisyear, medical issues have interfered with his training schedule, sohe didn't enter the race. But he's already planning for2017.

Phillips runs about six marathons a year, including races inVermont, New York, Miami, and, of course, Boston.

As he approached his 100th marathon, Phillips revealed hisnot-so-secret motivation.

“Every year at the finish line, Andy and I renewed ourcommitment to each other and the race. I would have stopped longago if it hadn't been for Andy,” Phillips said.

Phillips already has his eye on a new goal. In only eight years,at the age of 76, he plans to run his 25th Boston Marathon. And, nodoubt, Andy Martin will be there to cheer him on to the finishline.