Why I’m Running: ‘Battling cancer requires an army’
Brendan Lortie is running for Dana Farber and his girlfriend Jenna.
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: Brendan Lortie
Age: 27
From: Boston, Mass.
I’m running the Boston Marathon to raise funds for Dana Farber and in honor of my girlfriend, Jenna, who was diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma in May of 2024. Since her diagnosis, Jenna has tackled this journey head on and hasn’t backed down for one second. Watching her continue to fight day in and day out has given me all the motivation I need to make it from Hopkinton to Boston.
Over the last several months I’ve been able to witness firsthand the truly heartwarming level of care that Dana Farber’s doctors, nurses, and support staff provide to their patients. Jenna will be the first to say that battling cancer requires an army. Dana Farber and its people have made her feel like she has the best army in the world behind her.
From a loved one and caregiver’s perspective, no amount of money that I fundraise will be able to thank the organization adequately for providing that feeling of unwavering support, but I figure it’s a nice start.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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