Why I’m Running: I was given a second chance to live my life to the fullest

"To the little girl in the elevator ... This run is for you!"

Chris Miller

March 13, 2025

1 minute to read

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: Chris Miller

Age: 48

From: North Reading, Mass.

I’m running the Boston Marathon for Dana-Farber because they are why I am still here. I am a six-year survivor who was given a second chance to live my life to the fullest. After my first chemo infusion, I was so weak I could not even move to the other end of my couch, and I vowed that if I were ever able to be active again, I would do anything I could to support Dana-Farber and their fight against cancer. However, I am not running for just myself.

I am running for friends, family, and everyone who has been affected by this disease as are many of my fellow team members. Yet, there is a specific person who I am running for who was my inspiration, and I don’t know if she will ever know.

One day while I was getting ready for an appointment with my oncology team, a little girl who was a patient was in the elevator with me. She had her Barbie dolls and did not seem any different than any other child, other than her hair was gone because of her treatment. As the elevator went up, she looked at her mother and said “Mom, when my hair grows back, I’m going to dye it blue like my Barbie.” She was so proud of her hairstyling skills on her doll and her words were matter of fact, there was no way she was going to be denied her trip to the stylist one day. To the little girl in the elevator, who I know is not so little anymore, I hope I can meet you and if I do, both of us are gonna rock some beautiful, blue hair. This run is for you!