Readers Say

Amy Bellamy is running to support melanoma survivors like herself

"With a reduced field size for 2021, my qualifying time wasn't good enough. Instead of being sad, I thought I could turn my bad luck into something good."

Amy Bellamy said she didn't get accepted to the 2021 Boston Marathon at first, but she teamed up with Impact Melanoma and was given a chance to not only run the race, but fundraise for a great cause. Amy Bellamy

By Maya Gacina

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. If you’re running the marathon, you can share your #WhyImRunningBoston story here.

Name: Amy Bellamy
Age: 36
From: Ontario, Canada

At the age of 25 at a routine doctor’s appointment, she spotted an odd looking mole on my left leg. I went for a biopsy, and was diagnosed with melanoma. I had surgery to remove it, which left me bed ridden for several weeks. When I was finally able to, I wanted get active and healthy, which is when I started running. I slowly built up my endurance, and eventually ran a full marathon. In 2019 I ran the Toronto Marathon, and with the support of my coach and Runners Goals teammates I was able to qualify for the 2020 Boston Marathon. Along the way I met the man who is now my husband on the track while training, who is also running the Boston Marathon. I trained hard, but it wasn’t meant to be. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Boston marathon was postponed. I trained again for the new fall date, which was eventually cancelled. I ran the virtual race, but still dreamed of running in Boston. With a reduced field size for 2021, my qualifying time wasn’t good enough. Instead of being sad, I thought I could turn my bad luck into something good. I applied to team Impact Melanoma and was given a chance to not only run the race, but to fundraise for a great cause while I do it. I appreciate the opportunity and am so grateful to be a part of the team. This charity does great work supporting those with melanoma, and educating people on the risks.

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

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