Alexandra Torres is running for cancer survivors like her mother

"If she can conquer all of this, surely I can suffer through 26.2 miles."

April 14, 2024

1 minute 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.

Name: Alexandra Torres
Age: 33
From: Boston

I am running the 2024 Boston Marathon with the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team for cancer research. In 2015, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. After months of chemo, surgery, and with the support of her Dana-Farber team, she defied the odds and has been in remission for the past 7 years. Just last year, we found ourselves back at DFCI when she was unfortunately diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. She underwent another surgery and four months of chemo and thankfully is once again cancer free.

I am in awe of her strength and beyond proud of the courage she has shown through these diagnoses and treatments. If she can conquer all of this, surely I can suffer through 26.2 miles. My mom’s diagnosis opened my eyes to the nightmares of cancer and ultimately is the reason I chose my career as a physician assistant in Center for Neuro-Oncology at Dana-Farber. I continue to witness firsthand the horrors of this awful disease and the effect it has on my patients and their loved ones as their world is turned upside down.

Unfortunately, my story is not unique. Nearly all of us have been affected by cancer in some way, whether personally, through a family member, colleague, or friend. We need more effective screening, better treatment options, and ultimately a cure. This is the mission of the scientists and research staff at Dana-Farber, but they need our help. One hundred percent of the money I raise will go directly to the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research, supporting new lines of research for better treatment options. I am running for my mom, my patients, their families, and with the hope that one day we will find a cure to cancer.

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