Nancy Hammond is running the 2025 Boston Marathon for Rebekah’s Angels.
In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.
Name: Nancy Hammond
Age: 50
From: Webster Groves, Missouri
This will be my 7th Boston Marathon but the first one I have not qualified for. The Boston Marathon holds a special place in my heart. This year I will be running with a new purpose.
In 2011, my sister Anne unexpectedly passed away at the age of 46. Since then, her son, David, has struggled with anxiety and depression from the trauma of the loss.
I also love to run. In April 2024, I met a woman named Kelli while waiting in line for the bus to the Boston Marathon start line. We sat together, became fast friends, and exchanged numbers to stay in touch. While riding, she shared that she was running for Rebekah’s Angels, a nonprofit organization that provides critical funding for mental health treatment programs tailored for children and families navigating the challenges of trauma.
Fast forward to October 2024; I was working with David at Integrate 360 (my physical therapy practice) and he said that he was struggling. When David left, I checked my phone, only to see a text from Kelli that read: “I don’t know if you’re passionate about mental health, but I thought about you and think you should apply for Rebekah’s Angels team.”
Rebekah Gregory was at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2013 when the bombs went off. She sustained life-altering injuries, and transformed her pain into purpose, dedicating her life to helping others heal. In the wake of her recovery, Rebekah founded Rebekah’s Angels Foundation.
I believe that when God puts an opportunity in front of someone, they should seize it. So, I applied for the Rebekah’s Angels 2025 Boston Marathon team and was one of ten chosen.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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