Sign up for our Boston Marathon newsletter
Get Boston Marathon registration information, start times, live runner tracking, road closures, live updates from race day, special features, and more.
Boston Marathon runner honors brother lost to suicide, supports fellow veterans
After losing her brother to suicide, Heather Diamond is running for Home Base, a joint initiative of Massachusetts General Hospital and The Red Sox Foundation.
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: Heather Diamond
Age: 46
City: Gainesville, Florida
Three days before my 30th birthday, I received a voicemail from my father telling me to call him back when I was done with work. When I returned his call, he said “Your brother shot himself this morning.” I then asked “Well, is he ok?” My father responded, “He’s gone.”
Advertisement:
Three days later, my 30th birthday, we buried my brother. It was the worst day of my life. My older brother, Scott, was a 13-year veteran of the US Navy having served during the Gulf War. He loved his country; his favorite color was purple; he loved Dr. Seuss; and he took me to my first Florida football game. He was my hero and everything I wanted to be like when I grew up.
On average, we lose more than 17 veterans daily to suicide, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. While veterans make up only 7% of our population, they account for about 13% of suicides in the U.S.
Advertisement:
This April, I will be running the 130th Boston Marathon for Home Base, a joint initiative of Massachusetts General Hospital and The Red Sox Foundation. Home Base seeks to treat the invisible wounds of war sustained by our veterans, regardless of years of service, discharge status, and era of service. All services are provided at no out-of-pocket cost.
Scott loved Boston. He loved the Celtics and the Red Sox and was in denial when Roger Clemens left. While it’s too late to save Scott, it’s not too late for other veterans out there, veterans like Scott who are fighting against the lying demons in their heads. I can’t think of a better way to honor Scott than to run the streets of his favorite city raising life-saving funds for others just like him.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
Be civil. Be kind.
Read our full community guidelines.To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address