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Boston Marathon runner inspired by aunt’s blindness raises money for the visually impaired
"Watching her face each day with courage, determination, and resilience has been a profound source of inspiration."
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: Paige Stopperich
Age: 29
City: Somerville
I am running the 2026 Boston Marathon in honor of my Aunt Shannon.
I will be running for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI) as part of their Team With A Vision. Over the past few years, due to complex and unexplained health issues, my aunt lost all of her vision. As one can imagine, this has been an unimaginable adjustment for her and our family.
My aunt and I are extremely close, and watching her face each day with courage, determination, and resilience has been a profound source of inspiration for me. So, I made a decision.
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While I have never run a marathon before, I decided that if my aunt can handle the marathon of facing her health challenges every day with immense bravery, then the least I can do is take on the marathon with the water stations.
MABVI is an incredible organization that provides low-vision rehabilitation, in-home training, assistive technology support, mobility training, and peer groups to help people stay independent and connected. The work MABVI does is truly life changing, and I am proud to run the 2026 Boston Marathon in honor of my aunt and all those living with vision loss.
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Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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