Growing up in Chelsea, I remember taking the 111 into Back Bay every Marathon Monday to watch runners take their right on Hereford, left on Boylston – dreaming that one day I might cross that finish line too. I, like so many other Bostonians, was changed by the fear and chaos of April 15, 2013 and the days that followed. But when I reflect on Marathon Monday, I think about the spirit of this race and its runners. I think about the runners who crossed the finish line and kept running to help others on that horrible day. I also think about the medical professionals at Brigham who have cared for my loved ones and who saved and helped so many on that tragic Marathon Monday. 

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 that has transformed how we prevent, treat, and recover from traumatic injury. Traumatic injuries, including gun violence, are the leading cause of death for people ages 44 and younger in the United States. 

You can learn more about the Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at the Brigham: www.bwhsteppingstrong.org

Thank you for your support as I prepare to run 26.2 miles in support of Stepping Strong. I'm so grateful my parents chose Boston to be our home. I am so proud to be a Bostonian. And I can't wait to finally cross the finish line on Marathon Monday. 

From Start to Finish

Karla