Pregnant, battling cancer — now she’s running the 2026 Boston Marathon

After a harrowing diagnosis during pregnancy, the New Hampshire mom is running to give back to the Ellie Fund that supported her family.

Jennifer Capone Haberek is running the 2026 Boston Marathon.

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: Jennifer Capone Haberek
Age: 36
From: Newton, New Hampshire

I’m running to give back to the Ellie Fund after they supported me during my own harrowing journey with triple-negative breast cancer throughout 2024.

My husband and I received the news of my diagnosis while our son was ten months old and I was eight months pregnant with our daughter. It was the most terrifying time in our lives having to face treatment with chemo while pregnant, extra monitoring of the pregnancy, special induction arrangements and hoping for a smooth delivery so I could complete treatment and then undergo surgery.

Now I stand cancer-free and hopefully we are celebrating that first big two-year cancer-free benchmark when I cross the finish line in April 2026.

The Ellie Fund helped my family and I maintain some normalcy in our lives during an exhausting and impossible time. I promised myself I’d do something positive with the worst experience of my life. The Ellie Fund helped me feel human when I felt like my world was falling apart and I can’t imagine a more deserving organization who could benefit from my story.

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

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