He’s running Boston to continue his family’s work at The Hoyt Foundation

“My hope is to give the feeling that a person’s disability feels like it disappears through my family’s foundation.”

April 20, 2026 | 12:05 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: Troy Hoyt
Age: 28
From: Nashua, N.H.

My name is Troy Hoyt. Dick Hoyt is my grandfather and Rick Hoyt is my uncle. I am running to honor their memory and for reasons they inspired me to care about deeply.

This year marks my sixth Boston Marathon and tenth marathon overall, and I’m running not just for the finish line, but for every athlete with a disability striving to achieve their dreams. Every dollar I raise helps to provide the resources and support individuals with disabilities need to get in the game and live an active life.

When my grandfather was no longer able to push Rick, my uncle asked me to step in. I was lucky enough to push Rick in his last race the BAA 5K. While running with Rick on the streets of Boston, I thought about the times I watched my grandfather, Dick, and uncle, Rick, run this iconic race. I thought about Rick’s words that he typed after his first race, he wrote, “When I am running it feels like my disability disappears.”

I now run to raise money for The Hoyt Foundation created by Dick and Rick Hoyt to ensure inclusion is within reach for others. My hope is to give the feeling that a person’s disability feels like it disappears through my family’s foundation. Please join me in spreading Team Hoyt’s mission of inclusion by saying YES YOU CAN to everyone who asks, “Can I do this?”

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

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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