How a father’s promise led the Beggan sisters to run the Boston Marathon
"The moment our dad made that promise to Lindsey changed our lives."
In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston.
Name: Colleen Beggan; Michelle Beggan
Age: 29; 28
From: San Francisco, California (formerly of Medfield)
We have dreamed about running the Boston Marathon together for the Massachusetts General Hospital Team since the last time we separately crossed the finish line. The Boston Marathon has always been very special to our family ever since our oldest sister, Lindsey, was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma.
Lindsey was just ten years old when she was diagnosed at MGH. The day after she was diagnosed was the 102nd Boston Marathon and her doctor, Howard Weinstein, ran in honor of his young patients battling cancer. On Marathon Monday in 1998, my dad made a promise to Lindsey that she was going to beat the cancer, and he was going to run the Boston Marathon and they would cross the finish line together.
Lindsey underwent an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy to shrink her tumor that had taken over the left side of her chest and had surgery to remove the tumor, along with five of her ribs. Lindsey was continuously optimistic throughout her treatment and even on the toughest days she always had a smile on her face and her extraordinary outlook has always inspired us.
The moment our dad made that promise to Lindsey changed our lives. The Boston Marathon has always been a sign of hope and strength. We have grown up watching our dad, sisters, Lindsey and Christine, as well as other family members and friends run in honor of not only Lindsey, but for all the patients who are so lucky to receive care at MGH.
We are so excited to be able to carry on this family tradition and cross the finish line together! We cannot wait to represent MGH on Marathon Monday and do our part to support the pediatric hematology-oncology program at MGH.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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