From the Sidelines to Boylston Street

Growing up in Boston, the Marathon was always something special.

Every Patriots' Day, I watched thousands of runners make their way from Hopkinton to Boston. I saw the crowds, the emotion, the determination, and eventually the finish on Boylston Street. For years, I thought about what it would feel like to be one of those runners.

I wasn't a lifelong runner, and I didn't qualify for Boston. My opportunity came through the charity program, which gave me the chance to pursue a personal dream while raising money for a cause I believed in.

So I started running.

At first, the goal was pretty simple: train hard enough to make it 26.2 miles and finish the Boston Marathon. But somewhere during all those early mornings, long runs, difficult workouts, and miles I never thought I would be able to run, something changed.

I learned to love running.

I love the challenge of seeing what I am capable of. I love having something to work toward. But what has surprised me most is how much I love everything around the running itself.

Running has introduced me to an incredible community of people. It has become something I can share with friends, whether we're running a race together, meeting for a few miles, or encouraging each other through training.

It has also given me a way to support causes that matter to me. Charity running brings together two things that have become very important in my life: challenging myself personally while doing something that can positively impact someone else. Every mile can have a purpose beyond a finish time or a medal.

One of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been hearing from people who tell me that watching me run has inspired them to do something themselves.

Sometimes that means signing up for a race. Sometimes it means starting to run for the first time. And sometimes it is simply deciding to go outside and take a walk or become a little more active.

Those comments mean more to me than people probably realize.

I don't consider myself an elite runner. I'm just someone who decided to chase a dream, put one foot in front of the other, and see where it could take me. If watching my journey makes someone think, maybe I can do that too — that's pretty special.

Boston may have been the reason I started running, but it isn't the reason I've kept running.

I keep running because of the people I've met, the causes I've been able to support, the friends I get to share it with, and the feeling that something as simple as going for a run can sometimes have a much bigger impact than you expect.

And if my next run inspires even one person to take that first walk, run that first mile, or set a goal they weren't sure they could accomplish, that makes every mile worth it.

Mass General Brigham cared for my dad for years, and our family is incredibly grateful for the compassion and support he received, especially during his time on Lunder 10. Supporting Caring for a Cure is a way for me to honor him, thank those who cared for him, and help other families facing cancer.

While I was at Mass General with my dad, I learned that I had been accepted to run the 2027 London Marathon with The Lord’s Taverners, a UK charity that uses sport to create opportunities for young people with disabilities and those from disadvantaged communities.

It felt meaningful to use this marathon to support both causes. Caring for a Cure honors my dad and the care he received, while The Lord’s Taverners reflects both my career working to support low-income families and what I have personally learned through running about the power of sport to build confidence, community, and opportunity.