Why I’m Running: ‘It’s a family legacy’
"This year, I’ll achieve that goal and graduate from spectator to participant, when I take my place at the starting line to support the mission of The Home for Little Wanderers."
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. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.
The Boston Marathon isn’t just a race to me—it’s a family legacy. More than 100 years ago, my great-grandmother’s three younger siblings were placed in The Home for Little Wanderers after their mother died during the Great Influenza epidemic in 1918, shortly followed by the death of their father in 1922. The Home became their refuge until my great-grandmother, then a teenager considered old enough to live independently, was able to reunite them. After she married, she and her husband—my great-grandfather—legally adopted the siblings so they could live together as a family once again.
Now, in 2025, I’m honoring that history by running the Boston Marathon for The Home—an organization that has been part of my family’s story for generations.
As a child, a perfect Patriots’ Day for me was one spent along the Boston Marathon running route in Framingham. An appreciation for the race, admiration for its runners, and a dream to run it myself one day, took hold of me early on. This year, I’ll achieve that goal and graduate from spectator to participant, when I take my place at the starting line to support the mission of The Home for Little Wanderers.
In addition to this special connection with the organization, my passion for advocating for children and the disadvantaged drew me to partner with The Home. I credit my mother, who is a physical therapist for children with disabilities, for showing me the importance of advocating for others from a young age.
Outside of my daily work as a graphic designer, I enjoy journaling, photography, traveling, and running to the Esplanade from my nearby neighborhood of Beacon Hill.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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