Sign up for the latest Boston Marathon updates
👟 Everything you need to know about Marathon Monday, delivered to your inbox.
She’s running for the fighters in her life
Kate Mulherin is running the Boston Marathon for Dana-Farber.
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.
Name: Kate Mulherin
Age: 39
From: San Francisco, Calif.
Running the Boston Marathon was always a dream; I never thought I could tackle a marathon. But a few years ago I moved to San Francisco for work and started wondering if I could really do it. I took the leap and ran the San Francisco Marathon in 2022. To say it was humbling is an understatement. I had never felt so beaten up by an experience, and yet not even a week afterwards did I start wondering if I should try it again.
Advertisement:
Flash forward to 2024 and my family received the devastating news that my niece Abbie, only 13, was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called ANCA vasculitis. That fall was a challenging time, all of us wondering if Abbie’s symptoms could stabilize or if we had to resort to harsher treatments. Luckily, and in big part thanks to a drug that typically treats cancer patients, Abbie turned a corner and has slowly but steadily improved. She has a long road ahead of her, but she is a fighter.
As I reach 40 and think on my last four decades on earth, I want to pay my respects to the fighters in my life. Not only for Abbie, but for my mother-in-law, who fought against four different blood cancers, and received two life-extending bone marrow transplants at Dana-Farber. I want to honor my uncle and godfather Billy, who not only fought throat cancer but participated in Dana-Farber cancer studies, knowing it would benefit others who fight. As I approach this milestone birthday (just a few days before the marathon), my greatest wish is to contribute to something bigger than myself and advance the fight against cancer. I want to pay it forward and support the next family who must face this challenging journey.
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