These Boston Marathon Survivors Define Strength and Perseverance

As part of a Dear World project, Boston Marathon bombing survivors shared their touching, inspiring, and heartbreaking stories. And in an incredibly moving video for the project, they also delivered a message to the world, saying:

In March, Boston Marathon bombing victim and professional dancer Adrianne Haslet-Davis danced for the first time since losing part of her leg in the tragedy. During the 2014 TED Conference in Vancouver, 33-year-old Adrianne was moved to tears while dancing to "Ring My Bells" by Enrique Iglesias with Christian Lightner as her partner. Wearing a white sparkly dress, Adrianne took the spotlight and touched the audience with her emotional performance. Of the experience, Adrianne said:

Source: Twitter user TEDTalks

Survivor Jeff Bauman was part of an iconic picture following the Boston Marathon tragedy, in which he lost both of his legs. In the days after the bombing, he became a hero when he gave the FBI key details about the bomber, waking up in the Boston Medical Center and writing, "Bag, saw the guy, looked right at me."

This month, Jeff added "author" to his résumé thanks to his new book, Stronger, which hit shelves on April 8. He's also engaged to Erin Hurley, who cheered him on during last year's race, and in a recent TODAY show appearance, he opened up about the past year and said he'll attend this year's marathon with fellow survivors. "I think it's going to be a little tough," he said. "But I'm going to be with all of the survivors, and it's great to see everybody, and we're all doing well. We're all getting on with our life, so I'm looking forward to seeing everybody and having a good time."

On April 4, Rebekah Gergory and Pete DiMartino got married in a gorgeous ceremony as the winners of TheKnot.com's 2014 Dream Wedding. The pair was dating at the time of the 2013 race, and both suffered injuries. In the midst of their recovery, Pete proposed in October, and the couple will be participating in this year's marathon, too, with Pete pushing Rebekah's wheelchair. Rebekah told Glamour: "This whole situation has made me appreciate myself, and us, more than ever. I've got huge scars, but at the same time, every time I notice them I think, I'm a survivor."

Boston Marathon bombing survivor Heather Abbott is making strides in her recovery day by day. It hasn't been an easy road, and she's opened up about life's challenges, saying: "Sometimes it's just hard. Everything is more difficult now. I have to think about things I never had to before." Still, Heather is back working part time in human resources, and less than four months after getting a prosthetic leg, she went paddleboarding. The 39-year-old says she's been surprised by own strength, adding, "I'm much stronger and more resilient than I ever could have imagined."

Forty-five days after the 2013 race, Marc Fucarile was the last Boston Marathon bombing survivor to leave Massachusetts General Hospital. The 35-year-old father lost his right leg from above the knee, and he still may lose his left leg, and he says it's been difficult to explain his challenges to his 6-year-old son, Gavin, saying, "I'm like, 'There's a foot of snow. I can't do snow. We're not going out and playing right now. Sorry, buddy.' It breaks my heart."

Although he hasn't been able to go back to work and he's had to pay for several expenses himself, he's also received some financial assistance from the One Fund, and he hopes to become a motivational speaker. "It's been mind-blowing — all these good people who stepped out, who helped us, helped so many of us," he said. "All the victims I know feel the same way. Complete strangers who give, when they don't have." Marc has special plans for the week of this year's race, as he'll be saying "I do" to his fiancée, Jen Regan, at Boston's Fenway Park two days after the marathon.