After losing her mother, Amanda Bathory is running to support cancer patients

"For years, I grappled with how to honor her memory and prevent others from experiencing this pain. That's when I discovered the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team."

March 20, 2024

2 minutes to read

In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon runners share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. If you’re running the marathon, you can share your story here.

Name: Amanda Bathory
Age: 43
From: Newton

The Boston Marathon is more than just a race to me, it’s a beacon of hope and a symbol of strength.

Growing up in Brookline, right on the marathon route, it was a part of my world long before I knew what hardship truly meant.

My world got rocked in high school when my little bro, just 13 years old, collapsed running the mile in gym class. That was my first taste of loss. But the universe wasn’t done with me yet.

A cancer diagnosis for my mom, my rock, my everything, came next. At 55, she was taken from me by lung cancer, leaving a 27-year-old me to navigate the world alone.

We faced the devastating news together, two scared, lost souls trying to remain strong for each other. I saw the toll chemo took on her, the onslaught of pills, the eventual move to hospice. I spent nights on a pull-out chair in her hospice room, just to be with her.

One Memorial Day weekend, a nurse’s call alerted me that my mom’s condition had worsened. I rushed to her side, curling up in her arms and whispering, “I love you and you better not leave me without saying goodbye, please Mom.”

That night, a dream of my mom saying goodbye woke me up, just as a call from hospice confirmed my worst fear. She was gone.

For years, I grappled with how to honor her memory and prevent others from experiencing this pain. The thought of my own boys having to go through this is unbearable.

That’s when I discovered the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team. They changed it all for me – providing hope, friendship, goals, and a renewed sense of purpose.

They gave me a reason to run, to raise funds, and to do it on the course that’s been a part of my life since childhood. So I’m taking on the Boston Marathon AGAIN, with the best team ever, in honor of my mom.

I’m running for a world without cancer. If you want to join me on this mission, hit up the link on my profile page. Together, we can make a difference.

Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.