This father-daughter duo is running the Boston Marathon to end homelessness

"What Pine Street is doing is not only important to the people they help, but also to Boston as a whole."

Jocelyn and David Magrone. Jocelyn Magrone

April 1, 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. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.

Name: Jocelyn Magrone
Age: 24
From: Brooklyn, New York

I remember the first time I saw the Boston Marathon while I was attending Tufts University. It was the coolest thing I had ever seen! My friends and I were at Mile 25, and I thought it was amazing.

I was not a runner then, but I knew that I wanted to be. I started training the next day. My first marathon was about a year later when I ran the New York City Marathon to raise money to support a local charity. After that, I decided to run all six majors with my dad, David. We pick a charity in each city, and because we’re running together, we’re able to double our impact for a good cause.

Our family values include taking chances — like running a marathon — and creating opportunities, especially for others. As part of that, I was raised to give back to my community. As a Tufts alumna, Boston is near and dear to my heart. Pine Street Inn’s work to provide people with housing and support services to end homelessness perfectly aligns with my personal values. I’m thrilled that I can raise funds to provide someone with a home. What Pine Street is doing is not only important to the people they help, but also to Boston as a whole.

Training for and running the six major marathons is a challenge. Having a great cause like Pine Street to support is so motivational. People are depending on me. That puts things into perspective and makes any of my day-to-day issues seem small. This journey with my dad has made me a more thoughtful person. Every step we take is to help another person.