Turning pain into purpose from Boston to Tokyo

Craig Brooks, a father of three from Franklin, Massachusetts, wasn’t planning on becoming a marathon runner. That all changed when his wife, Meredith, was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer shortly after giving birth to their youngest child. The diagnosis turned the Brooks’s world upside down.

“Meredith went from a new mom to needing chemo, a double mastectomy, radiation, and a full hysterectomy, Craig recalls. “It was a scary time, and I felt helpless watching her fight while we had a newborn baby girl and two little boys at home.”

The emotional toll on the Brooks family was huge, but Dana-Farber Cancer Institute quickly became their lifeline. “The team at Dana-Farber gave Meredith world-class care, clear plans, compassion, and hope when we needed it most,” Craig shares. Today, Meredith is in remission while on continued treatment, and doing well with ongoing monitoring. “Dana-Farber isn't just a hospital to us; it's the reason we still have our future together.”

Inspired by Meredith’s strength and the care she received, Craig decided to run the 2025 Boston Marathon^® with the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) team. “I was never a runner before DFMC,” Craig admits, “but seeing Meredith push through all those treatments—the pain, the fatigue, the fear—and come out stronger, that was the ultimate motivation. I wanted to ‘pay it back’ to Dana-Farber for saving her. That’s what prompted me to apply to run Boston.”

After months of training and fundraising, Craig reached not one but two goals: the 2025 Boston Marathon finish line and raising $20,000 for cancer research at Dana-Farber. Now, Craig is taking his commitment to the next level by joining Dana-Farber’s inaugural Tokyo Marathon team in 2026.

For Craig, Tokyo felt like a great next challenge. The race is one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors and provides a chance to represent Dana-Farber on a global stage. Another draw was the opportunity for a big adventure for the Brooks family, with Meredith, their three children, and Craig’s mother-in-law all planning to travel to Tokyo and cheer him on. “Being part of Dana-Farber’s first Tokyo team is an honor. It means carrying their mission to Asia and showing that cancer care and research from Boston can inspire hope worldwide,” Craig shares.

Craig’s fundraising for the Tokyo Marathon feels especially meaningful because it directly supports the Mellen and Eisenson Family Center for BRCA and Related Genes at Dana-Farber. This research is deeply personal to Craig and his family, as genetic testing revealed that Meredith carries BRCA mutations. “Continued understanding of these genes could protect future generations in our family and others. Turning our experience into real progress against hereditary cancers feels like a way to make a difference.”

Craig encourages anyone considering running with Dana-Farber to take the first stride. “The fundraising commitment can feel intimidating at first, but the Run for Dana-Farber team guides you every step of the way,” he says. “The real reward isn’t the medal—it’s knowing your miles and dollars are helping patients to get better care and researchers to make breakthroughs. If cancer has touched your life in any way, running with Dana-Farber turns that pain into purpose.”

As Craig prepares for Tokyo, he reflects on the journey that brought him here. “I just want to say thank you—to Meredith for her strength, to our kids for keeping us laughing through it all, to Dana-Farber for saving lives, and to every single donor who has helped along the way,” he says. “Cancer is scary, but hope is stronger. Let’s keep fighting together.”

Join runners like Craig and help support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving mission to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults.

Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide through community-based fundraising events and other programs that solely and directly benefit Dana-Farber. Learn more about how you can get involved at JimmyFund.org, and follow the Jimmy Fund on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram: @TheJimmyFund.