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A Boston student runs the Marathon to honor her best friend — and the father she lost
The 21-year-old Boston runner is honoring a former Marathoner’s legacy while supporting trauma research through Brigham and Women’s Stepping Strong team.
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: Lily Penzone
Age: 21
From: Boston
This year, I am running the Boston Marathon for my best friend, Abby, in honor of her dad, who she lost in a trauma accident this past year. While Abby was living through the hardest time of her life, I was studying abroad, unable to get on a plane and be there for her the way I wanted to. That distance broke me, and this run is my way of showing up now.
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During countless summers, Abby’s dad welcomed me into their home with a generosity that felt effortless and genuine. He was the kind of person who made everyone around him feel included, supported, and cared for. Whether it was a simple conversation, a shared laugh, or quiet encouragement, he had a way of leaving people better than he found them.
What makes this run even more meaningful is that he himself ran multiple Boston Marathons. The course I’ll be running meant something to him, and now I will carry that legacy all 26.2 miles. This marathon is for Abby, for her family, and for a man who gave endlessly to others. I run to honor his life, his generosity, and the love he shared with everyone he met. Raising money for
Brigham and Women’s Stepping Strong team allows me to help support trauma research, awareness, and recovery, causes that now carry deep meaning in my life and in the lives of those I love.
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Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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