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After losing a beloved aunt to cancer, Erin Columbare is running Boston

"Training for a marathon is tough — both physically and mentally. Having cancer is tougher."

Erin Columbare is running Boston to raise money to support cancer patients.

March 8, 2022

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 story here.

Name: Erin Columbare
Age: 39
From: Pembroke

I’m running the 2022 Boston Marathon for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. I’m running for JAF to help cancer patients across New England who are in the biggest fight of their lives. The foundation provides financial grants to patients and their families to use towards paying everyday bills while undergoing cancer treatments.

James Whelan is running Boston to fight child cancer

My Aunt Pat was my biggest cheerleader and role model. She gave so much of herself to others, never asking for a thing in return. She was an amazing fifth-grade teacher who adored her students like they were her own children. She was a quiet angel; someone who loved to adopt multiple families at the holidays to make sure that kids wouldn’t go without gifts. She was selfless, generous, and humble. She never thought was she did was anything out of the ordinary or special.

We lost her to cancer in 2019 and she is my inspiration to run 26.2 miles. My goal is to raise $10,000 for JAF in memory of my aunt and in honor of so many others who have fought cancer. I want to inspire others to give back the same way my aunt did for me.

Training for a marathon is tough — both physically and mentally. Having cancer is tougher. Harder. Scarier. I want to do whatever I can to make sure that the battle against cancer is a little easier for people across the region. Because that’s what Aunt Pat would have done.

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