Dear Friends and Family,

I’m excited to share I've joined the Miles for Miracles team to help the brave kids at Boston Children's Hospital. This journey is deeply personal for me; 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with Severe Idiopathic Aplastic Anemia. It was a terminal diagnosis, but thanks to the groundbreaking treatment I received at Boston Children's Hospital, I was given a second chance at life.

Ten years ago, my dad ran the Boston Marathon for Boston Children’s, aiming to give back to the community that saved me. I remember sitting at the family brunch before the race, moved to tears by the stories of others who, like me, had received life-saving care at the hospital. It was then that I made a promise to myself to one day run the marathon.

Today, I’m on my way to fulfilling that promise. As I finish my third year of medical school and begin applying to residency programs, I carry with me the memory of that moment and my time as a patient. Running the Boston Marathon is just one small way I can help.

Having experienced both sides of hospital medicine—as a patient and now as a provider—I know how crucial it is for families to focus on healing rather than financial burdens. I want to ensure that no one has to worry about money while caring for a loved one. If I can help even one family lighten that financial weight, then I’ll know I’m on the right path.

I’m aiming to raise $15,000 to support the vital work of Boston Children's Hospital. Your support means the world to me and to the countless children who rely on this incredible institution. Together, we can make a difference in their lives.

Every dollar I raise funds the very best medical care, breakthrough research and vital support services for sick kids and their families. Your gift will:

• help children from your town and across the world get a second chance at life;
• give kids battling the most complex diseases care they can't find anywhere else;
• fuel 3,000+ researchers working to develop new treatments and cures;
• support patient programs, like music and art therapy, to let kids be kids, even during long hospital stays;
• help patient families in crisis with urgent needs, such as food, clothing and housing;
• deliver the most compassionate, leading-edge care to every child who needs it. 

Thank you for being part of this journey with me!

With gratitude,  

Julia