Members of the D.C. to Boston crew, including Frank Fumich (center) and Matt Nelson (second from right). Photo courtesy Frank Fumich.

A local runner began a journey to Boston on foot this morning to deliver money he raised for Boston Marathon bombing victims.

Frank Fumich raised $54,000 for the family of Martin Richard, the eight-year-old killed during the April 15 bombing, and Jeff Bauman, a victim who lost both of his legs. According to a site about the run, that fundraising goal, originally set at $26,200, has been raised to $78,600.

These numbers hold significance for Fumich. The Arlington triathlete ran three 26.2 mile marathons in succession to raise money for the Martin family in late April. After raising more money than expected, Fumich added Bauman, whose rescue by a man in a cowboy hat was photographed and went viral, as a beneficiary. He also decided to personally deliver the money to Boston with Florida runner Matt Nelson.

Fumich and Nelson began their journey from the Pentagon’s 9/11 Memorial this morning at 6 a.m. The 450-mile run to Boston will be non-stop, with Fumich and Nelson trading off every six hours. The men, who will get a police escort in each state they travel through, will make loop around Ground Zero and the Freedom Tower.

Fumich posted a message about the run on his Facebook page this morning:

Well folks, this is it! Just about ready to get into my bed for the last time in quite a few days! We have a long road ahead of us. I don’t know what exactly lies ahead or what we’ll find along the way. I do know there will be a LOT of pain, not much sleep, lots of digging DEEP, I hope some laughs, probably some cries too, and SURELY many many miles run!!!

But I also hope even more hearts will be touched along the way…especially for the Richard family and Jeff Bauman! But not just for them…I hope our journey can show others too, that people are generally good, and want to help one another. And you don’t have to know people to help…even complete strangers can make a difference! And this isn’t only about us running…everyone who’s donated to our effort, everyone who’s shared it, and everyone who’s run…we’re ALL in this together and I can feel this huge movement behind us, pushing us forward!! And believe me, I’M gonna need it!!

The run, which is expected to end June 1, can be tracked here.