Hi! Welcome to my fundraising page :) I am so grateful to be running my first ever marathon on behalf of the Stepping Strong center at Brigham and Women's Hospital.​

I grew up in Natick, MA, so I had the privilege of watching the Boston Marathon practically every year of my life. The day to me has always been the epitome of community, resilience, and determination. The culmination of months of tireless training and fundraising for the runners, being supported by thousands of friends, family, and strangers cheering them on every step of the way. It has always been my favorite day of the year. I was eleven when the Boston Marathon bombing happened, and what I remember most about that time was the unity that arose in the aftermath. The spirit of Boston Strong was palpable throughout the Boston area and the way the community came together to support one another was so inspiring. 

I think that Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center is the embodiment of the same community, resilience, and determination we see every year on race day, rallying behind trauma patients to make their recovery just a little bit easier. I want to be a part of that community of support for the patients at Brigham and Women’s; harness my voice and put meaning behind the miles I am running, in honor of Gillian Reny and her strength and with the hopes of transforming trauma care for patients in the future. 

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Standing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013, Gillian Reny's life changed forever. A senseless act of violence left her with traumatic injuries, but the efforts of a multidisciplinary medical team at Brigham and Women's Hospital saved her life and legs. In gratitude, her family established The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at the Brigham, where today, Gillian's strength drives a relentless pursuit to transform how we prevent, treat, and recover from traumatic injury, the leading cause of death for people ages 44 and younger in the United States.The Stepping Strong Center unites healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community members to revolutionize trauma care and rebuild lives. Here's how:

• Fuel Research: We support clinical studies and collaborative projects that accelerate solutions and improve trauma patient outcomes 
• Reimagine Care: We embrace the latest research to redefine best practices and transform trauma care for survivors
• Advance Education: We train the next generation of trauma leaders and empower the public to respond to trauma 
• Inspire Advocacy: We champion trauma survivors and injury prevention by raising awareness, supporting policy iniatives, and improving public safety

Thank you for supporting my fundraising efforts, by doing so you continue 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