For Philippines native Alvin Ang, who now lives in Illinois, running started as a way to get back into shape. At the time, a classmate of his since kindergarten recommended Alvin run the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle with her and promised to cover his admission fee — but only if he finished. Alvin, always up for a challenge and an excuse to participate in Chicago traditions, dove straight in, training for the 8k run. “That was the beginning of my journey,” he says.
“When I looked into the hospital, I felt inspired. I always told myself that one day I’m going to do the Boston Marathon, and one way to do it is through a charity program. I want to show my dedication and passion for nursing by running for this hospital as my contribution.”
What was initially difficult became more fun for Alvin over time. He found that he enjoyed running and pushed himself to run the Chicago Marathon later that year. Today, several marathons later, and 55 pounds lighter, he is ready to run the Boston Marathon for the first time as part of the Mass General Marathon Team.
Honoring His Family
Alvin works as a home care nurse in Illinois. He has run marathons everywhere — from Chicago and New York to Berlin and Tokyo — but has never run the Boston Marathon. Both a schoolmate who works at the Philippine Consulate in Boston and a former classmate who now works at a Massachusetts hospital and understood Alvin’s dedication to nursing, encouraged him to check out Massachusetts General Hospital’s team.
“When I looked into the hospital, I felt inspired,” he says. “I always told myself that one day I’m going to do the Boston Marathon, and one way to do it is through a charity program. I want to show my dedication and passion for nursing by running for this hospital as my contribution.”
Alvin’s respect for the way Mass General provides access to quality healthcare runs deep because of firsthand experience: in the last two years, he has lost several close family members, who lived in the Philippines, to cancer. His brother passed away from liver cancer in 2023, and his father died from pancreatic cancer only a year later. He believes strongly that their lack of access to and knowledge of the possibilities and promise of high-quality healthcare greatly impacted their survival.
“Mass General’s excellence in cancer inspired me immediately,” Alvin says. “Their cancer services include more than 500 cancer specialists, using the latest advances in technology, like proton and CAR T-cell therapies. In the Philippines, my hometown has only one specialist. My dad was afraid of the doctor and, unfortunately, was diagnosed 10 days before his death. My brother didn’t get any treatment at all.”
The Ultimate Race
Alvin says running the Boston Marathon in honor of his brother and father, and to support cancer care, is the pinnacle of his marathon journey. He calls this marathon his “ultimate race” — both for what it stands for him personally and professionally and because of how he has been humbled by the generosity of his community.
“I reconnected with so many people I knew through my work in nursing, and people are so willing to donate and help me reach my goal knowing it’s for a good cause,” says Alvin. “Because of their support, I can focus on my training.”
Training for the ultimate race is not easy, however, especially at 55 years old. But, as Alvin says, if you are nervous, it means you respect the marathon. “As I get closer, I get very excited. The nervousness is replaced with excitement — I know I’m ready for this.”
Alvin feels fortunate when he runs. He enjoys the “runner’s high” that kicks in after a few miles, in combination with the inspiration that takes over when he thinks about his family — this is especially true when he runs long distances and needs to push through the hardest legs of the course.
“I run for both my dad and my brother,” Alvin says. “I want to honor their memory and carry it with me while I’m running the marathon. It’ll be almost like they’re running with me. I want to make them proud. I want to do it for them, my family, for Mass General — and for myself.”
If you would like to support Alvin, click here.
To learn more about the Mass General Marathon Team, click here.
