Boston Marathon
“It is because of the MGB cancer center that she did not die when I was ten — something I will be forever thankful for.”
April 5, 2026 | 3:00 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: Madison Oakes
Age: 23
City: Boxford
I am running the 2026 Boston Marathon in honor of my mom on behalf of Massachusetts General Hospital, making it my second year running for the team.
When I was fourteen, my mom died of Stage 4 brain cancer, but it is because of the MGB cancer center that she did not die when I was ten — something I will be forever thankful for.
On Nov. 1, 2013, my three sisters and I left for school like any other day, but that morning, our mom suffered a grand mal seizure and was found outside by a neighbor. By December, she had gotten MRIs and surgery to diagnose the cancer — and was given six months to live. Well, my mom fought and lived three and a half years after her seizure, a feat only achieved through advanced chemotherapy, radiation, trials, and the phenomenal support of world class nurses, doctors, and surgeons at MGH.
Since she passed, I have become a nurse, working in oncology for nearly two years, getting the chance to help those with cancer beat the odds every day. I have even been able to progress to ICU-level cancer care, supporting the critically ill and their families recover physically and emotionally from a variety of cancers.
I hope you will be able to support me on race day, and I cannot wait to see you at the finish! Hold onto hope, and hold onto your loved ones.
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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