Boston Marathon
Elena Castellini is raising money for a nonprofit founded by a 2013 bombing survivor to help communities heal after trauma.
Elena Castellini is running the 2026 Boston Marathon. (Photo courtesy of Elena Castellini)
March 31, 2026 | 7:00 AM
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: Elena Castellini
Age: 23
From: Brookline
The 2026 Boston Marathon will be my first ever marathon. I came to Boston in 2019 from Monaco and fell in love with this city that I now call home. I have built my life in this city and country, and cannot imagine living anywhere else. It is such an honor to run this historical race in this city that has helped me become the person I am today.
I am raising money for the One World Strong Foundation, which helps survivors and victims of trauma to recover and build resilience through community building. The founder, Dave Fortier, was running the marathon in 2013 when the bombing happened. He created this organization to support survivors like himself to process this tragedy and traumatic event, and has since helped victims all around the world.
In a country and world that is plagued by violence and hate, the work of One World Strong is increasingly important to foster community and bring people together following traumatic events. Currently, the OWS team works with victims, survivors and veterans in Ukraine, providing medical assistance, technology such as prosthetics, and psychological rehabilitation.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.
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