How a friend’s battle with melanoma led him to the Boston Marathon
Jose Garcia is running to raise funds for Massachusetts General Hospital, in memory of his friend.
In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon runners share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston.
Name: Jose Garcia
Age: 32
From: Framingham
I’m running the 129th Boston Marathon for Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in honor of my friend, Kerry Thoubboron. Kerry was my friend of 13 years, mostly held together by laughter, adventure, and of course, beer. If you were to ask me, “Who makes you laugh so hard your stomach hurts?” it would be Kerry. She was adventurous, a little quirky, and always radiating warmth, rounding her out as a true native Vermonter. Even though running wasn’t her passion, she championed my own, celebrating every finish line.
Life as we all know can be deeply unfair. Unfortunately, Kerry faced a melanoma diagnosis at 30 years old. Kerry did not allow this to change her perspective of what life was all about: having fun. She met the challenge with humor of course, but it really astounds me how she embraced every moment with unwavering strength. She was always happy to join us at hockey games, and our local weekend road trips. But there were times where Kerry showed unimaginable levels of strength, which led her to MGH and their extraordinarily caring team. Aside from the physical illness at hand, the MGH team cared for Kerry as a person and showed the people rallying around Kerry the same.
Kerry did pass away in December 2023, leaving a void on my cheerleading squad. While it is difficult to lose that source of comfort, I’m reminded to think of Kerry when I run — to push my limits and enjoy that long course ahead of me. Running the Boston Marathon for MGH is my tribute to Kerry’s vibrant life and a chance to support the incredible work they do, such as providing comfort and care to my longtime friend. I know Kerry will be the reason I cross the finish line, and I will celebrate her memory and the tenacious dedication of the MGH team. Completing this marathon is a testament of my ability to take on a challenge with a smile, and hopefully I’ll have a beer at the very end with my best friend.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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