The Heartwarming Reason More Than 100 Golden Retrievers Cheered On Boston Marathon Runners

April 18, 2023

More than 100 golden retrievers and their families walked together from Boston Common to the marathon's finish line on Sunday in honor of a golden retriever who passed away earlier this year.

For years at the Boston Marathon, runners were able to look along the sidelines for a golden retriever named Spencer waving a "Boston Strong" flag. Last year, Spencer was named the official dog of the 126th Boston Marathon by the Boston Athletic Association.

But after a long battle with cancer, Spencer passed away on Feb. 17, 2023 at the age of 13.

One week later, Spencer's sister, Penny, passed on at the age of 11.

To honor Spencer and his sister, the group MA Golden Meetups organized a planned walk at this year's Boston Marathon.

More than 100 goldens showed up wearing bandanas that said "Golden Strong" in homage to Spencer's famous flag.

@bostondotcom A sea of golden retrievers and their owners took over the Boston Commmon on Sunday during an event to honor Spencer and Penny, the Boston Marathon's favorite canine duo. Spencer, who went viral in 2018 for braving the rainy weather to proudly hold flags in support of Boston Marathon runners, died Feb. 17 from liver cancer at the age of 13. Penny, who had appeared grief-stricken in the days following Spencer’s passing, died on Feb. 25 at the age of 10, after her owners, discovered hemangiosarcoma tumors had spread to her liver.   Spencer and Penny, who worked as therapy dogs, left a lasting mark on the community, which was felt at Sunday's event, organized by MA Golden Meetups. For more coverage leading up to tomorrow's big race, head to the link in our bio. 🐶 #GoldenStrong #SpencerAndPenny #BostonMarathon #Boston #GoldenRetriever ♬ I Think I Like When It Rains - WILLIS

The group raised money with the sales of the bandanas and presented Spencer and Penny's owner Rich Powers with a $1,000 donation to the Morris Animal Foundation in their name.