Hoosier Lakes Radio Club Selected for Boston Marathon Emergency Communications

Four members of the 75-year-old Indiana club will provide emergency communications support at the world's largest marathon.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:53am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a marathon race, with runners, spectators, and emergency personnel represented through sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors.The Hoosier Lakes Radio Club's selection to support emergency communications at the Boston Marathon showcases their expertise and commitment to serving the broader running community.Fort Wayne Today

The Hoosier Lakes Radio Club, a 75-year-old amateur radio station based in Kosciusko County, Indiana, has been selected to provide emergency communications support at the Boston Marathon. Four club members - Greg Shafer, Bryon Wells, Brian Sexton, and club president Matthew Carter - will be traveling to Boston on April 17th to work at hydration stations and assist with emergency communications during the marathon on April 20th. The club was chosen out of over 3,500 applicants, making them the only representatives from Indiana to participate in this capacity.

Why it matters

The Boston Marathon is the largest and most prestigious marathon in the United States, drawing runners from around the world. The Hoosier Lakes Radio Club's selection to provide critical emergency communications support highlights their expertise and experience in this field, as well as the national recognition of their capabilities.

The details

The Hoosier Lakes Radio Club has a long history of providing emergency communications support for local events, marathons, and working with the National Weather Service. When the opportunity arose to support the Boston Marathon, the club's core group of experienced members decided to apply. After a rigorous application process, four of the club's members were chosen to travel to Boston and assist with communications at hydration stations and other key locations during the marathon.

  • The Hoosier Lakes Radio Club has been around for 75 years.
  • The club applied for the Boston Marathon opportunity in February 2026.
  • The club members were notified of their selection in early March 2026.
  • The four selected club members will be traveling to Boston on April 17, 2026.
  • The Boston Marathon is scheduled for April 20, 2026.

The players

Hoosier Lakes Radio Club

A 75-year-old amateur radio station based in Kosciusko County, Indiana, that provides emergency communications support for local events, marathons, and works with the National Weather Service.

Matthew Carter

The president of the Hoosier Lakes Radio Club and one of the four members selected to provide emergency communications support at the Boston Marathon.

Greg Shafer

A member of the Hoosier Lakes Radio Club who was selected to provide emergency communications support at the Boston Marathon.

Bryon Wells

A member of the Hoosier Lakes Radio Club who was selected to provide emergency communications support at the Boston Marathon.

Brian Sexton

A member of the Hoosier Lakes Radio Club who was selected to provide emergency communications support at the Boston Marathon.

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What they’re saying

“I've done the Chicago marathon a couple times, so it's somewhat local, if you will, for this area. So the core group of guys that kind of do this type of thing got together and said, 'Hey, what about Boston? It's the largest marathon in the United States, you know, let's see what it would take to do that.'”

— Matthew Carter, President of the Hoosier Lakes Radio Club

“It's kind of a two-way feeling. You get that, oh, yeah, I've been picked, this is awesome, and then you get that, I've been picked, you know. So you have that emotion of, man, it's gonna be, it's a kind of a big undertaking, but it's exciting. at the same time. I get to do something that not a lot of people get to do.”

— Matthew Carter, President of the Hoosier Lakes Radio Club

“Them reaching out and then saying, 'Hey, we want you to come out and help us,' is a huge honor for us to say 'yeah, we're coming out there, and we're gonna we're gonna help you. We're gonna support your community. We're gonna support you. We're gonna support even the communities around the world, because the runners are from around the world. So you know, we're supporting not just the Boston Marathon, as in logistics, we're supporting the runners. We're supporting all the people who are behind the scenes, all the police, the fire, and the medics. It's a great feeling for all of us to be able to do that.”

— Matthew Carter, President of the Hoosier Lakes Radio Club

What’s next

The four Hoosier Lakes Radio Club members selected to provide emergency communications support at the Boston Marathon will be traveling to Boston on April 17, 2026, ahead of the marathon on April 20, 2026.

The takeaway

The Hoosier Lakes Radio Club's selection to provide critical emergency communications support at the prestigious Boston Marathon highlights their expertise and experience in this field, as well as the national recognition of their capabilities. This opportunity allows the club to showcase their skills on a national stage and support a major event that draws runners from around the world.