Jessica Hajjar is running Boston to honor her late mother
"I am determined to channel her strength and determination and transform grief into action by making a lasting impact in the fight against ALS."
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: Jessica Hajjar
Age: 33
From: Westwood
I’m running the Boston Marathon because I find my purpose in turning pain into action. In December 2021, my mother was diagnosed with ALS. In a cruel twist of fate, we were told our beautiful, kind mother who taught us so many life lessons, bent over backwards for us, stood up for us and never missed a defining moment in our lives, was dealt an unequivocally fatal, neurological disease.
On November 19th, 2023, my mother lost her battle with ALS. ALS is a critically underfunded disease. It is a progressive and eventually fatal neurodegenerative illness with no known cure or effective treatment. This disease particularly cruel because victims are aware of their fate as they gradually lose the ability to control their muscles, to communicate, and eventually to breathe. I have chosen to run for ALS to raise funds to support research and find a cure for this horrible illness.
I am running the Boston Marathon to honor the memory of a woman whose resilience and grace defined her battle with this cruel disease. I am determined to channel her strength and determination and transform grief into action by making a lasting impact in the fight against ALS.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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