As a nurse, I began my career working in trauma and I witnessed first hand the way a traumatic injury can affect someone, both physically and emotionally. I have also seen the difference that quality care and advancements in technology can make to help victims of trauma recover and thrive. Running the Boston Marathon has been a dream of mine since I moved here and I am honored to have the opportunity to raise money for The Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at Brigham and Women's Hospital, where I currently work as an ICU nurse.  

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

When you support a member of the Stepping Strong Boston Marathon Team, you're helping us turn tragedy into hope for civilian and military heroes who have suffered devestating traumatic injuries. As a solely philanthropically funded center, we depend on generous donations like yours to sustain our life-changing programs and iniatives. 

Thank you for supporting this extraordinary group of runners and continuing 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