In 2019, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital Ultrasound Technologist Elizabeth Chaisson ran her first marathon, the Boston Marathon, as a charity runner in support of the Red Cross. In 2020, she had the opportunity to join the Brigham Stepping Strong Marathon Team to run in support of The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation. But, like everything in the spring of 2020, the Boston Marathon was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the marathon is being held in the fall, on Monday, October 11, and Chaisson once again has the opportunity to run.
Because the marathon is traditionally held in the spring, runners train all winter in colder temperatures. With this year’s marathon taking place in the fall, runners have had to train over the summer. “I’m training all outside, which is very different in the summer with the heat and all of the rain we have had this year,” says Chaisson. “It’s definitely more difficult.”
Despite the difficult training conditions, Chaisson is enjoying the process and looking forward to race day. “I’ll be running in person so long as nothing changes by October on the COVID-19 front,” she says. “On race day, I can’t wait to take it all in—the crowd and the overall atmosphere—plus, the fall weather will be a welcome change.”
The mission of The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation is to catalyze multidisciplinary collaborations that inspire groundbreaking innovation, effective prevention and compassionate intervention to transform care for civilians and military heroes who endure traumatic injuries and events. Stepping Strong funded initiatives are making a profound difference for trauma patients and their families worldwide. To date, the center has raised more than $19 million. But much more needs to be done.
If you’d like to help Elizabeth meet her fundraising goal in support or The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation, click here.
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