He’s running his 11th Boston Marathon for pediatric cancer research
Tim Sullivan is running the 2025 Boston Marathon for Massachusetts General Hospital.
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: Tim Sullivan
Age: 56
From: Marblehead, Mass.
I’m running my 11th consecutive Boston Marathon to raise funds for MGH pediatric cancer care and celebrate two amazing young women – my daughter’s dear friend, Megan Sheehy and family friend, Sophia Maglione who lived incredible lives of hope before reaching the limits for their cancer treatments in their early teens.
My original plan was to run once, inspired by Megan who organized a fundraiser for patients at MGH, while still a patient herself. Upon meeting her caregivers, I was struck by how deeply they cared for her and her parents, and I’ve since come to know the exceptional value MGH provides to all families, including Sophia and her parents whom I met as MGH teammates in 2018. Cutting-edge expert treatment and compassionate, complete care for the whole family – a powerful combination sparking so much hope and guiding families through the darkest of days.
With so little known about the causes of childhood cancer and so few resources dedicated to developing new treatments specifically for children, I’m grateful for the support I’ve received thus far to enhance quality of life for these families. Funds go directly to clinical and laboratory research in childhood cancer, as well as supportive care programs like art and music therapy; parent, teen, and sibling support groups; and child life specialists helping patients cope with illness and treatment. Your donations push the boundaries for pediatric cancer care and get us closer to the promise of cures. The true finish line!
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