Why I’m Running: ‘Pop is my hero’
Elizabeth Pehota is running the 2024 Boston Marathon for the Alzheimer's Association.
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: Elizabeth Pehota
Age: 30
From: Boston
I am running the Boston Marathon for my grandfather, Pop, and all others affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Pop is my hero. I’ll forever treasure the weekends I spent with him and my grandmother Mimi during my childhood. The moment I noticed something was off with Pop stands out vividly in my memory. During my summer stay with my grandparents I left for my internship, and Pop questioned me as though I hadn’t been doing it the whole summer. Feeling uneasy, I immediately called my dad to check on Pop because I was unwilling to leave him alone. Pop was diagnosed soon after, and for the following decade, my family and I watched Alzheimer’s slowly rob Pop of his memories.
With each year that passed, he lost more of himself. However, Pop always told us to live our lives with “love and happiness” and this was a message that he upheld until the very end. They were two of the last words he could remember as his speech was stolen. Even when he didn’t know who I was anymore, he would ask me if I was happy and if I felt loved. He was an incredibly kind and caring person, who taught me how to be the person I am today.
Running the Boston Marathon with the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of Pop has been a dream since his diagnosis. I will cross the finish line on April 15 with a heart full of love and happiness to honor his legacy. I aim to challenge the belief that Alzheimer’s is incurable by raising funds for research efforts to combat this disease that separates us from our loved ones.
By joining Team ENDALZ, I support the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission of advancing global research, promoting risk reduction, and enhancing quality care and support. Your generous support will help me reach my fundraising goal and honor my grandfather’s lifelong dedication to helping others. While Alzheimer’s persists, so does my determination to find a cure.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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