The Brigham Stepping Strong Marathon Team
Key Info
Support the 2025 Brigham Stepping Strong Marathon Team
The Brigham Stepping Strong Marathon Team is now full, but qualified runners are encouraged to join the team and will be responsible for raising a minimum of $1,000.
Support a runner
April 21, 2025
Our runners are helping turn tragedy into hope. Help them reach their inspirational $1.7m goal.
The Stepping Strong Story: Turning Tragedy into Hope
In 2013, Boston was changed forever when a beautiful Marathon Monday turned into a senseless tragedy. Gillian Reny, then a high school senior, was one of the 39 critically injured patients rushed to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where doctors and nurses saved her life and both of her legs. In gratitude to the Brigham, the Reny family established The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation to help other trauma patients like Gillian regain their strength and ability to step strong once again.
I ran the 2014 Boston Marathon for Gillian—my sister, best friend, and greatest gift. I ran for the supporters, survivors, responders, doctors, and nurses who saved our family in myriad ways. And I ran to finally cross that finish line in 2014 with the conviction that there is so much good in this world.”
With Gratitude to the Reny Family
Why we run
Our runners are helping turn tragedy into hope. Hear their inspirational stories.
Find a runner
Thank you to the Reny family for generously sponsoring our Brigham Stepping Strong Marathon team. Their sponsorship will help advance the crucial work of The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at the Brigham, which catalyzes trauma innovation for injured civilians and military heroes, through multidisciplinary investigative collaborations across the continuum of trauma care, from prevention to treatment and recovery.
Trauma is often referred to as the neglected global epidemic of modern society as it accounts for 40 million emergency department visits and an economic burden of $4 trillion in 2020. It is the number one cause of death for people 44 or younger, ahead of cancer and heart disease. When you support a member of the Brigham Stepping Strong Marathon Team, you are helping the Brigham turn tragedy into hope for civilian and military heroes worldwide who have suffered devastating traumatic injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are only some of the questions we hear from prospective runners. To read more FAQs, click here.
How do I join the team?
Accepted runners to the 2025 Brigham Stepping Strong Marathon Team have been notified.
Each application is reviewed by a selection committee and runners will are accepted on a rolling basis. We send out updates throughout the recruitment period and have the intention of filling the team as quickly as possible. To get updates about how you can join the team in 2026, fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
If you are a qualified runner, you can still run with us! Contact us at marathonteam@bwh.harvard.edu to learn more.
How do I find a runner to support?
All 2025 Brigham Stepping Strong Marathon Team members have a personal fundraising page online. You can search all of our runners and read their inspirational stories about why they run at events.brighamandwomens.org.
Can qualified runners still join the team, and if so, what is the fundraising commitment?
Yes! Anyone who secures a bib on their own and is registered through the B.A.A. can join the team. Qualified runners must commit to a fundraising minimum of $1,000 and complete an application.
What type of training do runners get?
We engage a running coach, John Furey, to lead the physical training efforts for our team. He leads all personalized coaching with teammates of all running levels—from beginners to experienced marathoners. You can visit his website, www.furey262.com, to learn more.
