Hi, I’m Alvaro, and this year I am running the 2026 Boston Marathon with renewed purpose and determination.

In 2025, I committed to running Boston for the Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center. I completed the fundraising and trained for months, but a hip stress fracture forced me to step back just weeks before the race. It was heartbreaking to come so close and not be able to run. After all that preparation, I had to watch the race from the sidelines.

This year, I am back. And I am coming back stronger.

Running has been part of my life for more than two decades. It is my outlet, my challenge, and my source of focus. Last year’s setback reminded me how much running means to me and showed me both how powerful and fragile the human body can be. In many ways, my injury gave me a small window into the physical and emotional recovery journeys that trauma survivors face every day.

That perspective is part of why I am returning to this mission with even deeper conviction.The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center transforms lives through trauma research, recovery programs, and breakthrough treatments. The Center was founded in honor of Gillian Reny, who survived life-threatening injuries in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Her recovery, from uncertainty to hope, to walking again and thriving, represents the resilience that Boston is known for.

This mission is personal for me. I have known the Reny family for years, and I still remember the moment my sister told me what had happened to Gillian in 2013. Her story has stayed with me ever since. Running for a fund created in her honor is both humbling and deeply motivating.

After living in Massachusetts for more than eight years, I have seen how this city rallies behind the Marathon. It’s not just a race—it’s a celebration of Boston’s strength, community, and unbreakable spirit.

This year, as I begin training again, I am moving forward slowly, carefully, and with a grateful heart. I am carrying last year’s disappointment with me, but also the determination to finish what I started.

How You Can Help:

I am asking for your support as I take on this comeback marathon for the Stepping Strong Center. Your donation will directly fund trauma research, rehabilitation programs, and innovative treatments that help survivors heal, recover, and reclaim their lives.

Every dollar makes a real difference. Every mile I run brings us closer to giving survivors the care, hope, and breakthroughs they deserve. Thank you for believing in me, for supporting this mission, and for helping me turn a setback into a stronger return. Together, we can make an impact that lasts far beyond race day.