This Boston Marathon runner is supporting children in their hardest times

Maria Castaneda is running the 2026 Boston Marathon for The Children’s Room.

March 30, 2026 | 1:06 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: Maria Castaneda
Age: 52
City: Cambridge

I am running the Boston Marathon for The Children’s Room because, as someone from Mexico, I have been welcomed by the Boston community with extraordinary kindness, respect, and compassion.

From the very beginning, I felt seen, supported, and deeply connected to their mission: caring for children and families during some of life’s hardest moments.

The Children’s Room creates spaces where grief is met with understanding, healing is gentle, and no one has to feel alone. Every mile I run is an expression of gratitude and love for this community and for the children and families they serve. This race is not just a personal challenge; it is my way of giving back to an organization that leads with heart and demonstrates the power of compassion.

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.

Kelly Chan

Content Producer

Kelly Chan is a content producer at Boston.com. She designs multimedia content on site and across social media platforms, and experiments with new ways to engage readers.

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