BERLIN, Conn. (October 11, 2023) – For Dean Manley, running in the Eversource Hartford Half Marathon is more than participating in a company-sponsored event, it’s a way to bond and connect with his son who is wheelchair dependent. When Keion was just eight years old, he had an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) which led to an aneurysm that ruptured and started bleeding in his brain. The now 15-year-old is a non-verbal, vision-impaired muscular quadriplegic who hears and understands everything. He lives at home with his mom, dad and three brothers and loves to run with his dad. 

“Keion was always a daddy’s boy. Whatever I was doing, he wanted to be a part of it,” said Dean, an Eversource Project Manager. “When this happened, it became hard for us to find activities we could share. Now with running races, it’s something we’re able to do together as a team.”

The Norwich dad was inspired by Dick Hoyt, who ran hundreds of races while pushing his son in a wheelchair for decades. After hearing about their story, Dean knew he wanted to experience that with Keion. 

“I thought that was a great thing for a father and son to do together, and it’s not so much me doing it for him, he does it for me,” said Dean. “When Keion was in the hospital one time, I came into the room, and he was smiling. I told my wife, ‘Oh good. He’s doing so much better.’ She said, ‘No, he’s not. He’s just happy to see you.’ I’m always trying to find something that we can do together. He’s just happy to be with me and happy to do things with me, and I love that we can share this.” 

Three years ago, Team Hoyt New England loaned the Manleys a chair so the duo could run together. That’s when their road racing tradition began. Dean hopes their story will raise awareness about AVM and the symptoms to watch out for, which for Keion was a localized, severe headache a few months before the aneurysm.  

The Manleys will join thousands of other runners from across the country and beyond for the Eversource Hartford Marathon this weekend – the 10th year Eversource has been the title sponsor. More than 400 employees and their families will be running or volunteering that day – handing out water on the course, awarding medals at the finish line, and cheering on the runners along the way. The races kick off on Capitol Avenue at the front lawn of the CT State Capitol Building in Hartford on Saturday, October 14th at 8 a.m.

Jamie Ratliff

860-665-6056

Tricia Taskey Modifica

860-665-4605