My name is Maheen, and I am honored to be running the Boston Marathon in 2026 with the Brigham and Women's Stepping Strong team. The Stepping Strong Trauma Research Center - housed at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School - was created in the wake of the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing to turn tragedy into hope. Gillian Reny, a bright, resilient college student, was severely injured while cheering on the runners. Her family, grateful for the life-saving care she received at Brigham and Women's Hospital, established the Stepping Strong Center to ensure all trauma survivors can benefit from the most advanced research and care.

Running the Boston Marathon - the very event that gave rise to this center - is the ultimate way to honor that legacy and continue the work of transforming recovery into resilience.

My Stepping Strong Story: From Fragile to Fearless

Running this race is a deeply personal commitment, fueled by the belief that proper care and resources can transform recovery into resilience.

My journey to the Boston starting line began with a leg injury in 3rd grade that changed my life. Where I grew up in Pakistan, there was little awareness of, or access to, proper post-healing care. As the only girl in a protective family, my parents - out of love and caution - kept me from sports thereafter. Those early years shaped my identity: I grew up believing my body was fragile and incapable of anything physically demanding. But my breakthrough came in 2023 when I went from couch to full marathon in just 13.5 weeks. Since then, I have completed five full marathons, setting a personal best at every race. Running has become therapeutic - a way to reclaim the physical confidence I lost as a child.

My story highlights the profound gap in trauma care I experienced growing up. Because I lacked access to proper post-healing care, I carried the emotional and physical burden for decades. That is why the Stepping Strong Center means so much to me. I know firsthand how access to the right care at the right time can change a life's trajectory. This April, I will be running to help others rediscover their strength and turn recovery into resilience.

The Mission: Closing the Funding Gap

Traumatic injuries are the #1 cause of death for people 44 and younger in the U.S., yet trauma research receives less than 2% of federal funding. The Stepping Strong Center is changing these outcomes by focusing on four key pillars:

• Fuel Research: Supporting clinical studies and collaborative projects to accelerate solutions.

• Reimagine Care: Redefining best practices to transform trauma care for survivors.

• Advance Education: Training the next generation of trauma leaders and empowering the public with lifesaving skills.

• Inspire Advocacy: Championing trauma survivors and injury prevention.

Join My Journey and Double Your Impact!

Please help me reach my $11,500 goal! Your donation fuels the research, innovation, and advocacy that make full recovery possible for trauma survivors everywhere.

Matching Gift Opportunity: You could double or even triple your donation through a matching gift! Please check if your employer participates.

Matching Gift Details:

• Official Organization Name: Brigham and Women's Hospital

• Tax ID (EIN): 04-2312909

• Verification Contact: Kiran Rai (krai1@bwh.harvard.edu)

Thank you for helping me turn my miles into meaning - and for standing with the spirit of Boston Strong.

Best,

Maheen