The path along the Charles River is a popular spot for runners, especially during training season for the Boston Marathon. Runners follow the river’s twists and turns along the tree-lined path, envisioning the marathon finish line.
Callie McLaughlin, 24, of Brookline, Massachusetts, has seen this path and other challenging routes many times. Coincidentally, the river path runs within view of the hospital room where she was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor as a child. This is where Callie’s story began and when her mother first ran along the river 20 years ago.
When Callie was 4 years old, she was diagnosed with a pineal tumor, a rare brain tumor near her pituitary gland (a small gland deep inside the brain behind the nose). Outside of her room on Ellison 17, runners were training on the Charles River.
Mom Ran Boston Marathon
Before her diagnosis, Callie’s mother was one of those training for the 1998 Boston Marathon. Her mother’s interest in running came to the attention of Howard Weinstein, MD, chief of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) and one of Callie’s doctors at the time. He suggested that her mother run the marathon in Callie’s honor on the Fighting Kids’ Cancer… One Step at a Time team. With her daughter as her inspiration and patient partner, Callie’s mother crossed the finish line that April in her first-ever marathon.
“It was a thrill to run with Callie’s mom and I was super excited when I heard that Callie wanted to join our marathon team,” Dr. Weinstein says. “Running with a former patient is a dream come true for myself as a pediatric oncologist.”
Now it’s Callie’s turn as she trains for the 2018 Boston Marathon this April. “The Boston Marathon is an important part of the fabric of this city. It’s my first marathon and I really wanted to give back to the place that essentially saved my life,” Callie says. “Running a marathon has always been a bucket list item for me, especially the Boston Marathon.”
A Strong Patient Partner
Just as her mother ran in Callie’s honor, Callie is running for a young girl she met through the Patient-Partner Program. “The Patient-Partner Program was at the center of why I wanted to run for MGHfC. My patient partner is so strong and nothing has held her back despite being in treatment for a few years,” she said. “If she can do that and stay positive, I can run the marathon easily and with a smile.”
As Callie runs her first marathon, Dr. Weinstein will count the 2018 Boston Marathon as one of almost 30 marathons in his lifetime. “My mom ran with Howard when I was little and now I get to run with him as well,” Callie says. “I can’t think of anything more special.”
Please consider supporting Callie and other runners raising money for Mass General’s pediatric cancer marathon team.
John Hancock-Mass General Boston Marathon® Partnership
Mass General is proud to be an official Partner of John Hancock in the Marathon Non-Profit Program. The Non-Profit Program provides over 1,000 Boston Marathon® bibs to select non-profit organizations throughout the community, which provides organizations with a significant fundraising opportunity. Last year, John Hancock Non-Profit Runners raised over $10M for their causes. Learn more about our John Hancock-Mass General Boston Marathon partnership that continues to provide significant support for our three signature causes: Pediatric Cancer, Emergency Medicine, and Home Base.
