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This Dedham resident is running Boston for suicide prevention
"When I finally spot the iconic Citgo sign in Kenmore Square, I will know he's still right there with me, cheering me on through those final steps," Holman said.
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Name: Russell Holman
Age: 39
From: Dedham, Mass.
In May 2018, I lost my brother, Rick, to suicide.
Our last conversation was about him visiting me in Boston, so we could catch a Red Sox game together.
When I finally spot the iconic Citgo sign in Kenmore Square, I will know he’s still right there with me, cheering me on through those final steps.
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I am honored to run the 2026 Boston Marathon while raising funds and awareness for Samaritans, as someone who has used their resources and who could have used them earlier in life.
Rick’s suicide led me to Samaritans while I was looking for ways to process my grief. At a local survivors’ support group, I found other people who had lost a sibling to suicide. Being a part of a group that had experienced this caliber of loss helped me establish some meaningful relationships. That compassionate listening and connection were transformative during one of the hardest times of my life. I found comfort in knowing I wasn’t alone in navigating this unique pain.
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As a young adult, I didn’t realize that — what I now identify as — chronic depression and panic attacks weren’t normal. I coped in silence, which manifested in attempts to take my own life.
Having experienced both sides of suicide — losing my brother and nearly losing myself — I know firsthand that getting help can change everything.
Asking for support is one of the bravest things you can do. You are never too broken to get help, and the world is absolutely not a better place without you.
Your presence matters, your story matters, and there are people — strangers on a helpline, peers in support groups, friends, and family — who want to listen and walk with you through it.
Samaritans was part of that lifeline for me.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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