Sign up for our Boston Marathon newsletter
Get Boston Marathon registration information, start times, live runner tracking, road closures, live updates from race day, special features, and more.
She’s running Boston to honor her best friend
"This race is my way of honoring her strength, her resilience, and the love she showed everyone around her."
In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.
Name: Ashley Cook
Age: 30
City: Plaistow, N.H.
I am running the Boston Marathon as a member of Team MGH in memory of my best friend, Meghan (McWeeney) Melo and for the care she received at Mass General Hospital throughout her courageous battle with breast cancer.
Running Boston has always been a dream, but running it for Meghan and for MGH gives every mile deeper meaning. This race is my way of honoring her strength, her resilience, and the love she showed everyone around her, even in the face of so much uncertainty. It’s also my way of giving back to an institution that provides lifesaving care, groundbreaking research, and unwavering support to patients and families when they need it most.
Advertisement:
Every step I take on Marathon Monday is for Meghan, for the incredible team at MGH, and for all those still fighting. Thank you for supporting this journey, this cause, and the legacy of someone who meant — and continues to mean — so much to me.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
Be civil. Be kind.
Read our full community guidelines.To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address