Casey Tocchio is running to support addiction treatment and mental health services

"I’m not alone in the fact that I’ve witnessed friends and family struggling with mental health issues or substance use disorder without access to the appropriate resources or programs."

Casey Tocchio is running for the South Shore Health Foundation team in memory of Sara Weidner, who died of an accidental overdose. Casey Tocchio

By Madelaine Millar

March 5, 2020

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: Casey Tocchio
Age: 33
From: North Weymouth, Massachusetts

In January 2019, my father’s best friend lost his daughter Sara to an accidental overdose. Sara Weidner was a vibrant, creative, and beautiful 22-year-old woman. I’m running the 2020 Boston Marathon on the South Shore Health Foundation team in Sara’s memory and dedicating my run to her family, while raising money for the Grayken Center for Treatment in Weymouth.

The Grayken Center for Treatment is a collection of substance use disorder and behavioral health initiatives created to address the many needs of people living on the South Shore of Massachusetts, removing barriers for people who are in need of addiction treatment and mental health services.

I know I’m not alone in the fact that I’ve witnessed friends and family struggling with mental health issues or substance use disorder without access to the appropriate resources or programs; since staring my Boston Marathon journey, I’ve heard dozens of similar stories. The Grayken Center for Treatment is an incredible asset to the community and I hope to exceed my fundraising goal of $12,000, because, “there is no health without mental health.”

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