She’s running Boston for The ALS Association in memory of her dad

“Every mile I run is for my dad, for his strength, his kindness, and his legacy. And every step forward is for a future where ALS no longer takes the people we love.”

Lauren Hamilton 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: Lauren Hamilton
Age: 26
From: Tampa, Florida

I am running the Boston Marathon for my father — the most kind, caring, and selfless person I have ever known. He was my rock, my safe place, and the glue that held our entire family together. If you knew my dad, you loved him. He had a way of making everyone feel seen, valued, and supported, whether you were family, a friend, or someone he had just met.

This speech-language therapist is running Boston to fund autism support services

My father dedicated his life to his work and his community, spending years working tirelessly in the city of Boston as a salesman. Boston wasn’t just a city to him it was part of who he was. To be able to run this race, on these streets, in his honor is something I will carry with me forever.

ALS took my dad far too soon. I was only 25 years old when I lost him, and nothing prepares you for the pain of watching someone you love battle such a devastating disease. ALS is cruel and relentless. It steals independence, dignity, and time things no family should ever have to lose. No one should have to imagine what life would look like without the people they love most.

This marathon is my way of continuing the fight for him and for every family impacted by ALS. My “why” is rooted in hope — hope that one day an ALS diagnosis will not feel like the end, but instead the beginning of a fight with real options, real treatments, and real answers.

Every mile I run is for my dad, for his strength, his kindness, and his legacy. And every step forward is for a future where ALS no longer takes the people we love.

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