"The whole future lives in uncertainty. Live immediately.” – Seneca the Younger
I’m running the 2026 Boston Marathon and fundraising for Blood Cancer United because pancreatic cancer took my mom from me on December 17, 2025. Mom had to fight her own fight, but we can help those who fight this awful battle in the future by what we do now.
I’m also running because I’ve never run a marathon—and if the Charlotte running community is going to inspire (or subconsciously peer pressure?) me into one, it might as well be the one, which happens to fall four days after my 45th birthday.
Additionally, I’m running because in 2019 I was hit by a car while jogging, spent four days in the ICU, and almost died. I refuse to let that accident define my limits. This race will be the exclamation point on that lesson.
Any one of these reasons could have motivated me to ask for your support; together, they made this journey irresistible.
Blood Cancer United is a global leader in cancer research, support, and advocacy. Their breakthroughs have advanced treatments across many cancers—which is why I chose to run with them.
As Seneca said, and as my 2019 accident and Mom’s battle both remind me daily: we never know how many days we have. Waiting to live or make an impact risks never doing either. She got a tattoo this year and plans to skydive soon—I refuse to wait, too.
Life—and my mother—have taught me that when people come together, our only limit is what we’re willing to ask of ourselves and each other.
To paraphrase a favorite quote: the only thing necessary for disease and evil to triumph is for those who can push back to do nothing.
Matt
Family member and supporter
