Boston Marathon
“Joslin Diabetes Center was the reason I did not lose hope.”
March 14, 2026 | 12:00 PM
1 minute to read
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: Collin Bennett
Age: 29
From: New Braintree, Mass.
I am running the Boston Marathon for Team Beth Israel Lahey Health, in support of Joslin Diabetes Center. On May 23, 2008, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, and hearing that news at 11 years old was the scariest moment of my life. I remember wondering if I’d ever be able to play sports again, or how my friends would react to the insulin pump on my hip.
Joslin Diabetes Center was the reason I did not lose hope. They gave me the tools, guidance, and the confidence that my life would not be defined by a diagnosis. Seventeen years later, they are still doing that, and have proven to me everyday that I can still do everything I love.
I am not only running for the cure for millions of people living with Type 1 diabetes, but also for the scared 11-year-old boy who thought running 26.2 miles as a diabetic was impossible.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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Kelly Chan
Kelly Chan is a content producer at Boston.com. She designs multimedia content on-site and across social media platforms, and experiments with new ways to engage readers.
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