Above: An inspiring Southborough resident is again using the marathon to raise funds to help others with spinal cord injuries and disabilities. (photo cropped from 2025 fundraising page)
[The Boston Marathon always includes a pack of runners from our town. Between now and Patriots Day, I’m featuring stories of resident runners donning bibs for a cause]
Last year, I shared the inspiring story of a Southborough resident who was running her second Boston Marathon several years after an accident that made her fear she would never walk again.
Now, for the third year, Grace Bellefeuille is running the big race to raise funds for a very personal cause — supporting the physical therapy work that she credits as making her journey forward possible.
As a high school ice hockey player, Bellefeuille experienced spinal cord injuries. (You can read more about that here.)
This year, Bellefeuille writes:
This is my third year in a row running with Journey Forward. I’m always honored to support a charity that is so personal to me.
I’ve played sports my whole life, but I only started long-distance running about three years ago. For some adaptive runners, our physical or neurological impairments aren’t always visible, but we still need support, and places like Journey Forward offer that.
In 2016, I was hit from behind while playing ice hockey and suffered a spinal cord injury that left me paralyzed. Through hard work, perseverance, and some luck, I learned to walk again, and now to run marathons.
My injury didn’t disappear; it just stopped being visible. I still deal with pain every day, especially when I’m running. I’m not the fastest, but I stay because of the people. This community has changed my life.
Always be kind. You never know what the runner next to you or passing you is carrying. Surround yourself with people who lift you, who believe in you, and who aren’t afraid to tell you the truth. Thank you to everyone who’s gotten me to the finish line, but like someone once told me, “the hard part is getting to the start.” 130th Boston Marathon… can’t wait!!
Thank you, Journey Forward. This one is going to be extra special.
If you’d like to support her fundraiser, click here. To learn more about the non-profit, click here.
[Note: If you are a Southborough resident using the Marathon to raise funds/awareness for a cause, please reach out with your information. Email mysouthborough@gmail.com.]
