GRACIOUSNESS

By: Kennedy Salts (Epsilon Omicron 2014/Southern Indiana)

Graciousness is “the quality of being kind, polite, and generous,” and of course, all Sisters practice graciousness. However, some of us take graciousness to another level by devoting our lives to generosity and kindness – one of those Sisters is Kellie Vehlies Beretta (Epsilon Epsilon 2010/JWU North Miami).

Over the years, Kellie had watched from the sidelines on social media as her friends ran the half-marathons and marathons, and finally had enough of the jealous thoughts that crept into her mind. She made up her mind: she was going to run too. After a traumatic leg break in 2018 that required intense healing, Kellie was finally cleared by her medical team to start running in 2022 and she was determined to achieve something big.

In the spring of 2023, Kellie, with support from the Boston Alumnae Chapter, raised over $15,000 and ran to complete the most demanding marathon course of the Six World Major Marathons: The Boston Marathon.

Kellie pushed through 26 miles – six consisting of steep, rolling hills – in the brutal and unpredictable New England weather. Freezing and rain-battered, she made the famous right on Hereford and left on Boylston to run the final 0.2 miles. Cheers from friends and loved ones helped carry her to the finish line, and triumphant tears filled her eyes as her feet dashed across the iconic checkered line. She had conquered the Boston Marathon.