How losing his grandparents to cancer led him to the Boston Marathon
"I wanted to find a meaningful way to honor their memory and legacy."
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: Zach Frazier
Age: 30
From: Delray Beach, Florida (originally from Mansfield)
I’m running the Boston Marathon as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge to raise awareness for cancer research. Between 2015 and 2020, I lost three grandparents to different forms of cancer. Losing them at that stage of my life was difficult, and I wanted to find a meaningful way to honor their memory and legacy. I wanted this to be something special, not only for me but for my family as well. What better way to do that than by running my first marathon in my home state?
I’ve been a runner throughout high school and college, and I’ve always dreamed of running the Boston Marathon one day. The opportunity to run this iconic race while raising awareness for Dana-Farber’s cancer research is incredibly meaningful to me. This April isn’t just about running a race, it’s about honoring those who have lost their battle with cancer and supporting those who are still fighting.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com