Growing up right outside of Boston in Andover, the Boston Marathon has always been a part of my life. Year after year, I stood on the sidelines cheering with awe and admiration for the runners, inspired by their strength, resilience, and determination. With a mom who was an avid runner herself, I always knew that one day I wanted to cross that iconic finish line on Boylston Street. Now, that dream is becoming a reality and I couldn?t be more proud to be running my very first marathon in support of the Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Foundation.

April 15, 2013, changed the city of Boston forever. I was just 12 years old when the bombings happened, but the memory has stayed with me. What stood out most wasn?t just the fear or the tragedy, it was the bravery. People ran toward the chaos to help, without hesitation. That moment lit a spark in me, a lifelong desire to be someone who helps others, no matter what. Today, I work in Neurosurgery at Brigham and Women?s Hospital, and I?m pursuing my dream of becoming a nurse to carry that mission even further.

The Stepping Strong Foundation is a beacon of hope and healing. Born from the tragedy of the marathon bombings, it funds cutting-edge trauma research, supports injury prevention, and helps patients recover stronger than ever. I see the real-life impact of this work every day at BWH, in the trauma patients we care for and in the innovative treatments that save lives. Running 26.2 miles in support of Stepping Strong feels like the perfect way to give back to the community and hospital I care so deeply about.

This isn?t just about running a marathon. It?s about honoring the survivors, the heroes, and everyone affected by trauma. It?s about making a tangible difference in the lives of others through funding groundbreaking research, expanding trauma care, and investing in recovery and resilience.

 Every dollar raised goes directly to:

• Advancing trauma innovation and critical care

• Supporting patients and families in recovery

• Training future leaders in trauma medicine

• Expanding emergency response capabilities

I?ve been dreamt of this journey for years and all of your support, through donations, and words of encourage mean the world to me. 

From Start to Finish