Cameron Young is running Boston to support pediatric cancer care at MGH

"The incredible healthcare providers at MGH were able to treat and cure this devastating disease with kindness and compassion that has left a lasting mark on my family and I."

April 13, 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: Cameron Young
Age: 25
From: Boston

My journey to Hopkinton began in 2013 when my family and I witnessed the tragic bombing occur at the finish line. At the time, I was 14 years old watching my uncle run the race in support of Spaulding Rehab. The horrors I witnessed that day deeply affected myself and my family and I vowed that the next time I returned to the finish line, it would be after 26.2 miles. However, it has taken quite some time reach a time where I was physically fit enough to take on this challenge.

As I went through school, graduating from Medfield High School and Northeastern University, I developed a passion for medicine, particularly working with kids. Over my many years of volunteering with children in the hospital, I have witnessed the journey of pediatric cancer patients and their families facing unfathomable medical challenges. Yet, their unwavering resilience and emotional strength in the face of adversity are humbling and awe-inspiring.

These interactions have compelled me to pursue medicine as a career, and particularly the field of pediatric oncology. Now, as a medical student at Harvard Medical School, I am excited to have the opportunity to support these children both in and out of the hospital by running the Boston Marathon in their honor! The Pediatric Cancer Program at MGH is providing world-class care and leading innovative research that truly deserve our support.

MGH has also had a significant impact on my life, when in 2017, my dad was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The incredible healthcare providers at MGH were able to treat and cure this devastating disease with kindness and compassion that has left a lasting mark on my family and I. Therefore, I am even more excited to run in support of this amazing institution!

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