Boston Marathon

These 10 athletes will inspire you this Marathon Monday

The 129th Boston Marathon will take place on April 21.

By Maya Shavit

April 17, 2025

5 minutes to read

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Ahead of the 129th Boston Marathon, residents from 128 countries and all 50 states are gearing up for the race of their lives.

On April 21, more than 30,000 athletes will make the 26.2 mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston, each running with their own personal goals and causes in mind.

Each year, Boston.com asks runners to share why they’re running, and what it means to them to run Boston. Among the highlights this year is a runner inspired by those fighting childhood cancer, a son moving in his dad’s footsteps, and a fiancée advocating for her disabled partner. Here are some of the athletes’ stories that will inspire you this Marathon Monday.

Tim Sullivan

Marblehead resident Tim Sullivan is inspired by two young women in his life who faced pediatric cancer. His daughter’s friend, Megan Sheehy and family friend, Sophia Maglione, both inspire him to lace up for a race to raise funds for Massachusetts General Hospital.

The 56-year-old fuels himself when training gets hard by remembering that the true finish line is finding a cure for pediatric cancer.

“Upon meeting her caregivers, I was struck by how deeply they cared for her and her parents, and I’ve since come to know the exceptional value MGH provides to all families, including Sophia and her parents whom I met as MGH teammates in 2018,” wrote Sullivan.

Seth Mendoza

When a surgery put Seth Mendoza’s father out of commission before the Boston Marathon, a race he has run eight times, the 18-year-old stepped up to take his place.

“I have always done things to challenge myself, so I thought that running the Boston Marathon during my senior year of high school would be pretty special,” said Seth.

The student from Mokena, Illinois is running for Semper & Fi’s America Fund, a veteran-focused nonprofit that helps families like his own that have been impacted by military service. When Seth was three months old, his father was injured in Iraq and the nonprofit helped his family recover.

Beth McKenna

Beth McKenna’s daughter, Lydia, was diagnosed with a rare disease called Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) when she was just 10 weeks old. The sickness causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and can lead to complications like blindness, learning disabilities, bone abnormalities, cancer, disfigurement, and disabling pain.

The Connecticut resident said there is no way to predict the severity of symptoms, and there is no cure. Despite this, Lydia is “a happy, spirited 6-year-old who is also managing two brain tumors,” McKenna wrote.

“She’s stronger and fiercer than I ever could have imagined,” she said.

She’ll be running her third Boston Marathon on Monday, for the Children’s Tumor foundation.

Du Park

Du Park suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in May 2024 due to a bike accident. The Norwood resident was discovered unconscious on the side of the road by a police officer. He is raising money in deep gratitude to the people who helped him through his injuries, especially Spaulding’s Rehabilitation at Mass General Brigham who tailored his physical therapy needs.

Now, Park is on the road to recovery.

“I was discharged at the end of June, and I ran two very slow miles for the first time on July 25, 2024,” said Park. “Spaulding is where I first felt hope and joy again, where my soul was returned to me, and I’m so grateful to run my city’s marathon supporting Spaulding.”

Sarah Burke

Sarah Burke will make the 26.2-mile trek to Boston for the second time in honor of her mom’s battle with breast cancer.

The Braintree resident is running for the Ellie Fund, a group that was there for her mother until the end. The organization relieves breast cancer patients of the immense financial burden that families face throughout the process while their world is “crashing” around them.

 “My dad was a working father of two pre-teen girls and somehow never missed doctors appointment with my mom. Financially slammed with hospital bills, the Ellie Fund provided my parents a sense of relief with gift cards to Stop and Shop,” said Burke.

She hopes that her message will reach sons and daughters who are facing similar battles alongside their loved ones.

Kyle Anagnos

Kyle Anagnos has seen mental health struggles and suicide plague his family for generations. His cousin, Josh, both of his uncles, his great-uncle, and multiple cousins have died by suicide.

To combat the pain, Kyle runs for Samaritans.

“I’ve seen firsthand how mental health struggles ripple across generations when the right resources aren’t in place. That reality has shaped my lifelong commitment to suicide prevention and mental health advocacy,” said the New York resident.

Ridgely Provencal

Ridgely Provencal from Boston is running for the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation, so no woman has to fear going outside.

“Men who go out for a run or walk do not think about being harassed or assaulted and are able to live their life without this worry and women frankly cannot,” said Provencal. “As a female runner from high school to now in my early 30s, who runs alone and often walks alone in the city, I feel that no women should have to question their safety when they step outside each day, yet we do all the time.”

Ridgely is inspired to raise funds for the charity that advocates for women and helps provide tools like self-defense through specially designed events that attempt to push back against the violence women face.

Stephanie Silva

Stephanie Silva hopes to raise awareness and funds for Haymakers for Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to hosting amateur charity boxing and running events to knock out cancer.

“This organization began with six amateur boxing events in five major cities, and has expanded to pounding pavement at road races across the globe,” said Stephanie from Peabody.

As a cancer surviver herself, Silva has actively contributed to the organization’s mission since 2017. Cancer “does not have a finish line,” and she wants her power to especially inspire her two children.

Rachel Doucette

Rachel Doucette is running for her partner, a permanently disabled Coast Guard veteran, on the Brigham Stepping Strong Team.

“The Boston Marathon represents a shared symbol of everything we have overcome together,” said the Brighton resident.

Doucette is inspired by her fiancee who has overcome lasting injuries, such as a stab wound, broken bones, torn rotator cuffs, chemical burns from firefighting, and long-term exposure to toxic substance. She knows that they will cross the finish line together as a united front with spirit.

Anthony Yu

Anthony’s Yu is “deeply inspired” by his mother’s “lifelong dedication to running.” This Marathon Monday, he is running for the Trustees of Tufts College with her.

“She is not only a 20-time marathoner and a full Ironman triathlon finisher, but also a six-star marathon finisher, an honor earned by approximately 2,000 women in the United States who have completed the six ‘major marathons,'” said the Tufts senior from New Jersey.

As they race together, Yu is running to honor her achievements and the values she instilled in him.