Jean Driscoll DREAM BIG Award

The SBAGNE Board of Directors is now accepting applications for the Annual Jean Driscoll Award. The SBAGNE offers this award of up to $1,000 as a tribute to Jean Driscoll, an eight-time Boston Marathon Champion and adult with Spina Bifida.

The award may be used for educational, developmental or assistive programs and needs and will be awarded to a SBAGNE constituent, age 14 or older, with Spina Bifida who best demonstrates the character and determination of the scholarship’s namesake.

Jean Driscoll, who was born with Spina Bifida and has used a wheelchair since her early teenage years, is an accomplished athlete and speaker known around the world. Jean has enjoyed a life many people can only dream about experiencing. She won silver medals in the 1992 and 1996 Women’s 800-meter Wheelchair Exhibition Event at the Summer Olympic Games as well as 5 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze medals across 4 Summer Paralympic Games. She was a world record holder in the 10,000-meter track event, 10K and marathon road racing distances. She has won the Boston Marathon eight times and was the first athlete in Boston's 120+ year history to achieve this feat. She even has a street named after her in Champaign, Illinois and a park pavilion named after her in Urbana, Illinois.