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Connecticut woman running 2026 Boston Marathon after Alzheimer’s strikes her family again
"My dad — a lifelong Boston sports fan and three-time marathon runner — will cheer me on while his memory still allows him."
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: Colleen Graham
Age: 33
From: Norwalk, Connecticut
[It was the] fall of 1999. “Mommy, why does Nana keep telling the same story over and over again?” I whispered at the dinner table. My nana had just moved in with my family — my parents, my four older brothers, and me, the youngest and only girl. I was six years old. Nana lived with us for three years until my mom made the brave decision to move her mother to a nursing home in 2002. Nana passed away in 2007.
Fast forward to fall 2024. I was on a plane to California when my brother texted: “Why are mom and dad with John at Butler Hospital?” I checked their location. My stomach sank.
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That day, my otherwise healthy father with no prior medical conditions was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 69. He was at Butler Hospital for his first consultation at Brown University’s memory clinic. My dad, a retired surgeon and my biggest cheerleader, would begin to slowly lose his memory before my eyes. My confidant. The gentlest soul. My goofiest best friend. This diagnosis has rocked my world, and it’s only the beginning of a long road I know all too well because of my nana.
With your help, I will make it to the starting line of the 2026 Boston Marathon for my dad and every future Alzheimer’s patient. My dad — a lifelong Boston sports fan and three-time marathon runner — will cheer me on while his memory still allows him.
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I run for my mom, now a caregiver for the second time.
Although dedicating miles matters, the only way to cure Alzheimer’s is through research. Please help me reach my goal of raising $30,000 and beyond—to fight alongside my father and for the hopeful reality that every future daughter who receives this devastating news will have a cure for her own daddy.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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