Running with Heart: Katie’s Mission Beyond the Finish Line

For nearly a decade, TOCCI’s Executive Assistant Katie Colombo has been a quiet force of good—organizing annual blood drives for Boston Children’s Hospital, rallying colleagues and community members around a cause close to her heart. This year, that commitment takes on new meaning as she prepares to run the 128th Boston Marathon as part of the Miles for Miracles team. Her motivation is personal, her resolve is inspiring, and her journey is a testament to the power of purpose.

We sat down with her to talk about what inspired this next step, what training has looked like, and why every mile she runs on Marathon Monday carries the weight of something far greater.

What inspired you to run the Boston Marathon?

“I’ve always dreamt of running the Boston Marathon – watching it every year and thinking, “Maybe I could do that.” I’ve even filled out applications and never submitted them. Growing up, I had terrible asthma, and a mile jog in gym class seemed utterly impossible.

After college, I started exercising and never missed a week since then. I got more into running a few years ago and realized, I could actually do this. This fall, I learned my friend Rachael was running her second Boston Marathon for Boston Children’s Hospital and her son Jeremiah, who contracted bacterial meningitis at two weeks old. Jeremiah was an inpatient at Children’s for over two weeks and is a walking miracle today due to the care he received at Children’s during those scary weeks.

So, with a little push from Rachael, I finally sent in my application, passed the interview process, and committed to doing this for myself, for Team Jeremiah, and for all the patients and families at BCH.”

What team are you running for and why is it important to you?

“I’m running for the best charity team out there – the Boston Children’s Hospital Miles for Miracles team. My MFM teammates are an amazing group of people from BCH nurses, doctors, surgeons to family members and friends running for loved ones who were or are BCH patients.

My family’s tie to BCH began almost 43 years ago when my twin sisters were born. My sister Kara was born with Down Syndrome and required open heart surgery. My sister Krista remained in the Brigham NICU while Kara was transferred to BCH where she received lifesaving open heart surgery and inpatient care for six months. Thanks to BCH, Kara is with us today and thriving.

Additionally, my son Matthew was born with a fused kidney and essentially has only one working kidney. Matthew was an outpatient at BCH for the first five years of his life where they monitored his kidney function and later gave us the OK that Matthew would be able to live a completely normal life with his condition. Matthew and Jeremiah are best buds, and I credit those two crazy 7-year-olds for bringing Rachael and I together to do this.”

How have you been training for Marathon Monday?

“Our team followed a 19-week training plan including running (of course), cross training and strength training. We started in mid-December and haven’t stopped. Rain, cold, snow, cold, sicknesses, did I mention COLD? You name it – we got it done. Saturday mornings were for long runs where our team had a meeting spot in Wellesley and ran together along the marathon route. I completed my weekday runs in the early mornings, many times outside in the pitch black before the sun came up, to be sure to get through my workouts before my kids woke up.”

What’s been the most rewarding part of this journey?

“The most rewarding part of all this is knowing the money our team raised will help with vital research and lifesaving medical services for many sick kids and families. Our team is set on raising a total of $3.6M this marathon season – all of it going directly back to the kids and families at BCH. I’ve met some of the most incredible people being part of the MFM team. My teammates run for their kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters – some who are on the road to a healthier life, some who continue to fight the fight, and some who have sadly lost the battle along the way. Every mile run, every weight lifted, every sore muscle, every early wake up is for all of them.”