This 14-time marathoner is running the Boston Marathon for his daughter and children’s health

Chris Ruggio is running the 2026 Boston Marathon for Boston Children’s Hospital Miles for Miracles team.

Chris Ruggio is running the 2026 Boston Marathon. (Photo courtesy of Chris Ruggio)

March 11, 2026 | 12:00 PM

1 minute to read

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: Chris Ruggio
Age: 57
From: Duxbury

My daughter, Holly, has been a patient at Boston Children’s since she was a toddler, when was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA is a chronic condition with no cure, so her treatment focuses on managing joint inflammation, swelling, pain, and tenderness.

Thanks to the exceptional medical care, therapy, and support she has received at Boston Children’s Hospital, Holly has grown into a happy, confident teenager who continues to thrive despite her diagnosis.

I have run 14 marathons, and the 2026 Boston Marathon will be my second time running Boston. Later this year, I’m also hoping to run Berlin as part of my goal to earn the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal, which includes Boston, Berlin, London, Chicago, Tokyo, and New York City.

While each of these races has been an incredible experience, Boston is especially meaningful to me. It’s a world-class event, and there’s nothing quite like running such a prestigious race in the place I call home, with friends, family, and teammates cheering me on.

Every marathon I’ve run has been in support of charities focused on children’s health and well-being. With the generosity of friends, family, and colleagues, I’ve raised more than $70,000 to date. For Boston 2026, I’m proud to be running with the Boston Children’s Hospital Miles for Miracles team. I run to help children like Holly receive life-changing care, and to offer hope to families facing difficult diagnoses.

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

Are you running the 2026 Boston Marathon? Share your story with us.

Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.

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