Gregory Gonzales is running his twelfth Boston for Team MGH

"I couldn't think of a better way to honor all she gave me, and her patients, than to run this year as a member of Team MGH."

April 12, 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: Gregory Gonzales
Age: 40
From: Melrose

I am running the 2024 Boston Marathon, in honor of my mother, Mary Jo Gonzales.

In 2007, I was a recent college graduate, in search of direction. My mom was a nurse practitioner in the pediatric oncology clinic at Mass. General.

She knew they had a marathon team, and I had recently gotten into running. A bit naively, we both thought it would be a good idea for me to join the team. I quickly fell in love with the marathon, and with the team.

The ability to raise money for kids in need, and connect with them on a personal level gave me the direction and sense of meaning I had been looking for.

Since that first marathon in 2007, I have run the Boston Marathon 12 times as a member for the MGH Team. Last March, my wonderful and amazing mom passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.

I couldn’t think of a better way to honor all she gave me, and her patients, than to run this year as a member of Team MGH.

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