Mom running Boston Marathon in memory of 6-year-old son who died from rare brain cancer
Every Boston Marathon participant's cause is inspiring, but a super mom from Framingham, Massachusetts, has pushed through hundreds of miles on the pavement in memory of her son.
"He jumped into my arms, and I look at that picture and I have no idea how I held him after just completing 26.2 miles. And he was wiping my tears," said Christine Soutter, of the Why Not Devin Foundation.
Soutter recalls the moment her son Devin greeted her at the finish line of her first Boston Marathon.
At the time, 6-year-old Devin was battling Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) 바카라 게임 웹사이트“ a brain tumor that would .
Six years later, Soutter is running her seventh consecutive Boston Marathon.
"I see him every time I finish, and I think that's part of the reason why I continue to run," she said.
Video above from 2017: Devin Suau, inspiration behind #WhyNotDevin, loses battle with rare brain cancer
Now, Soutter runs for Devin, for awareness and for the foundation named after the hashtag that sent his cause into the national spotlight.
"The Why Not Devin Foundation helps families with a child diagnosed with DIPG," Soutter said.
When Devin was diagnosed with a tumor that no child had ever beaten, his family decided their son could be the first. Ultimately, Devin's fight was mighty but short, and to this day there is still not one survivor of DIPG.
"You know, we have this saying that life should be a marathon, and all of these kids only get to sprint. And as hard as it is running those 26.2 miles, it's nothing in comparison," Soutter said.
Why Not Devin has raised more than $300,000 through fundraisers바카라 게임 웹사이트” the Boston Marathon being the largest.
This year Soutter has six runners on her team 바카라 게임 웹사이트” some from as far away as Israel 바카라 게임 웹사이트” a purposeful choice to bring awareness worldwide.
"I've been all over the world recently, and it's mind-boggling to me but also amazing because I think that shows how much awareness has happened and that change will happen," Soutter said.
On marathon day, Soutter said there are signs of Devin everywhere.
"Now, running Boston is so incredible because there is a sea of green all along the marathon route," she said.
That sea of green 바카라 게임 웹사이트“ Devin's army, DIPG warriors 바카라 게임 웹사이트“ and a reminder to Devin바카라 게임 웹사이트™s mom that every step in the marathon is a step closer to a survivor.
"When I look at that picture, I'm like, 'I can do anything.' If I can run that and then have him jump into my arms and hold him, it's my metaphor 바카라 게임 웹사이트” that picture," Soutter said.