The other side of the story: This liver donor is running the 2026 Boston Marathon

“Life after donation isn’t about what you can no longer do — it’s about what’s still possible, and sometimes even discovering new challenges you never imagined taking on,” Neal said.

Amanda Neal is running the 2026 Boston Marathon. Amanda Neal

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: Amanda Neal
Age: 40
City: Beverly

In April 2025, I became a living liver donor to my 8-year-old neighbor, Beckett. A decision that required almost no deliberation.

As someone who tends to overthink most things, this was pure clarity: Beckett needed a liver to save his life, and I was healthy enough to help.

The testing moved quickly, the process felt surreal, and once I learned I was a match, there was never a moment of doubt. I was simply grateful to be in a position to give someone else a chance at life — and hopeful that, if my own children were ever in a similar situation, someone else would feel that same call to help.

This April, Beckett’s father, John, and I will toe the line at the Boston Marathon — an event that is equal parts exciting, meaningful, and, if I’m being honest, a little terrifying. Running has never been my strong suit (jogging feels like the more accurate description), but that’s exactly why this journey matters so much to me.

Running the Boston Marathon is my way of showing that being a living donor does not have to come with limitations. Life after donation isn’t about what you can no longer do — it’s about what’s still possible, and sometimes even discovering new challenges you never imagined taking on.

Crossing that finish line represents resilience, gratitude, and the incredible things the human body — and spirit — are capable of.

I’m proud to be raising funds for Beth Israel Lahey Health, where my liver donation surgery took place. The transplant team and post-operative care at Lahey Burlington were nothing short of remarkable, and their work changes lives every single day.

John is running in support of Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund, honoring Beckett’s cancer journey and supporting ongoing cancer research that brings hope to so many.

Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.

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