Andrew's Fundraising Page
In 2013, Boston was changed forever when a beautiful Marathon Monday turned into a senseless tragedy. Gillian Reny, then a high school senior, was one of 39 critically injured patients rushed to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where doctors and nurses saved her life and legs. With gratitude to the Brigham, the Reny family established The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation to help other trauma patients regain their strength and ability to step strong once again.The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation aims to catalyze trauma innovation for injured civilians and military heroes through multidisciplinary investigative collaborations across the continuum of trauma care, from prevention to treatment and recovery. Stepping Strong-funded initiatives are making a profound impact on trauma survivors and their families worldwide. The center has raised more than $30 million to fuel trauma research, advance education, build community, and inspire advocacy. But much more needs to be done.
Running for the Stepping Strong Team is the culmination of a journey that began for me in 2013, as an undergraduate at MIT. I was on Commonwealth Avenue watching the Boston Marathon when runners suddenly began running in the wrong direction. That day, as the tragic events unfolded, the city shut down but banded together. My friends and I listened to the police radio as authorities searched for the perpetrators of the bombing. I still remember the heartbreaking news of MIT police officer Sean Collier's murder. That experience left a lasting impression on me.
Fast forward to 2016, I met Danielle Reny, a classmate of mine in medical school at Penn. This is when I learned the inspiring story of her sister Gillian above and the creation of the Stepping Strong Trauma Center. The summer after our first year in medical school Danielle and I worked in related research labs in trauma surgery. Hearing about the resilience and commitment to patient care of Gillian and the Reny family deeply moved me. Now, as a cardiac surgery resident, I deal with critically ill patients every day, some of whom are trauma victims. I’ve come to understand firsthand how essential world-class trauma centers are in saving lives.
Since that day watching the marathon in 2013, I’ve transformed into an endurance athlete, completing multiple 140.6 mile and 70.3 mile Ironman triathlons. Running for the Stepping Strong Marathon Team would allow me to combine my passion for endurance sports with a cause that is so deeply personal. My connection to the Boston Marathon and the Stepping Strong team is a series of seemingly unrelated, yet deeply interconnected events. Back in 2013, I didn’t know the Reny family at all, but the experiences from that day, combined with my journey through medicine and endurance sports, have brought me full circle. Now, I could have the honor of running for a cause that has come to mean so much to me, driven by the resilience of a community I’ve come to deeply admire.
Thank you for supporting this extraordinary group of runners and continuing to honor the Boston Strong spirit that still defines our city today. Learn more about the Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at the Brigham: www.bwhsteppingstrong.org
Brigham and Women's Hospital is a proud partner of the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program.
Achievements
Self-Gift Badge
I'm a runner and a Brigham donor!
Personal Progress:
of Goal
$6,626
Raised
$10,000.00
Honor Roll
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Dr. Andrew Acker
$250
Dr. Aravind Krishnan
Jamie Karraker
$100
Jane Morse
$500
koree shay
$100
Lewis Dunaway
$100
Matt Stansky
$200
Michael
$500
Mr. Douglas Present
$250
Mr. Mitch Kates
$250
Mr. Todd Cramer
Pina and Gete
$100
Rob DiBernardo
$100
Ryan Frankel
Scott Symonds
$100
Szu Kothari
Wilson Szeto
