A statue of Boston Marathon dog Spencer has been placed along the race route to honor him for everyone to see

In two weeks, runners doing the 26.2-mile run from Hopkinton to Boylston Street will see a familiar and encouraging face; a face that supporters believe will inspire them.

Spencer, the beloved golden retriever known as the Boston Marathon dog, has been commemorated along the route in Ashland, near the spot where he and his owner Rich Powers, of Holliston, stood and cheered on runners over the years.

A large group of friends, family, community members, and golden pooches gathered Saturday for the unveiling of a bronze statue in honor of Spencer, across the street from the Ashland Community Center.

Powers stated, “This statue isn’t about me, and I don’t want people to think that I, an arrogant guy, had a statue made for my dog. That’s not the case.”

He added, “This is for everyone. If you don’t know his story, I believe the statue will hold significance for you. For those familiar with Spencer, he was an angel who lived in our house and was too special not to share.”

In 2015, Spencer became known around the course’s third-mile mark in Ashland during his first marathon. The 2022 race was particularly memorable, with 20 runners waiting at one point to meet Spencer, who was wearing an official race bib, and to take photos with him.

Regrettably, Spencer passed away from cancer in February 2023, and his sister Penny died eight days later from a tumor on her spleen and liver that caused internal bleeding.

Showing the heart of a champion, Spencer overcame severe health challenges before ultimately succumbing to his cancer.

In November 2020, a 3.5-pound benign tumor between Spencer’s liver and spleen caused him to bleed internally. Surgery saved Spencer’s life, which Powers called a miracle.

Later, a tumor developed on Spencer’s spleen, and he was diagnosed with cancer.

However, Spencer's legacy has endured. Hundreds of golden retrievers appeared at the Boston Common the day before the last Marathon Monday, wearing yellow marathon bandanas in honor of Spencer.

Although the Ashland Select Board rejected a proposal last July to place a bronze statue of Spencer at the community center, nearby residents, Robin and Cynthia Hicks, swiftly offered a portion of their 16-acre land as an alternate location.

A GoFundMe campaign raised over $39,000 from 487 donors to make the statue a reality, and there are plans to add some sitting rocks and a bench for visitors.

“It’s here forever,” Robin Hicks told the Herald. “My plan is to keep this land as long as I can until I pass and give it to my children and see what they can do with it.”

“This is what it’s about,” he said while watching a crowd of supporters getting their first glance of the statue. “The feel good — that’s what Spencer was about.”

Spencer’s fame captured the attention of not only those in the Greater Boston area but also of those living outside of Massachusetts.

Barbara A. Walsh, who lives in Maine and won a Pulitzer Prize for journalism, wrote a book called “SPENCER: Boston’s Beloved Marathon Dog” which tells the story of the golden pooch’s life. She found out about Spencer when she read his obituary in the New York Times and thought it was extraordinary for a dog to have an obituary in the New York Times.

Walsh hopes the book becomes a best-seller because it's a story for all ages, not just for kids but also for adults. She believes it's a story about courage, inspiration, and kindness, qualities that we all need, and Spencer gave his heart to everyone.

Jessica Coyne Ritter, who lives in New Jersey, and her mother stopped at the celebration on their way back home after a trip to Boston. Coyne Ritter participated in the marathon last year through the Boston Bruins Foundation and felt Spencer’s presence even though it was the first marathon since his passing.

Coyne Ritter said that running the marathon can be tough at times, and you have to dig deep, but with Spencer, you don't have to dig deep because he's always there, and you get to love him.