Chris Stevenson, shown with his wife, Kaila, at the 2019 Boston Marathon, returns to raise funds for the American Liver Foundation.

Hopkinton’s Chris Stevenson is running his 10th marathon and fourth Boston, and he’ll be joined by his sister, Laura Fortin, as they raise funds for the American Liver Foundation, which they have done the past few years.

“We run for those who can’t,” Stevenson shared. “We lost our dad to liver cancer in 2017, he was 63 years old and recently retired when he found out he had Stage 4 liver cancer. He fought hard for a few months but it was too much. The American Liver Foundation was there for us as a resource for the worst time in our life, and my sister found out that the ALF was one of the first charities to get bibs for the Boston Marathon. My sister ran in 2018 then recruited me for 2019.

“That same year for the same cause, I met my now-wife, Kaila, who was also running the Boston Marathon for the American Liver Foundation, in honor of one of her best friends, Courtney Jones, who passed in the same year at the age of 25.”

As of early April, the siblings had raised more than $13,000 of their $17,000 goal via their online fundraising page (givengain.com/project/laura-raising-funds-for-american-liver-foundation-67224).

Added Stevenson: “We run to honor those we’ve lost and to hopefully help spread the word of the American Liver Foundation.”

Dalmata runs as guide

Hopkinton’s Dara Dalmata is a veteran marathoner — primarily as an individual, but also as a guide for a visually impaired runner. She is raising funds for the Carroll Center for the Blind, a facility in Newton.

“I work for this amazing organization and witness the life-changing impact our services have on clients’ lives every single day,” Dalmata wrote on her fundraising webpage (givengain.com/project/dara-raising-funds-for-carroll-center-for-the-blind-71455). “The Carroll Center provides essential skills training and education to blind and visually impaired children, adults and seniors, helping them learn the skills they need to be active and independent in school, at work, at home and in the community.

“Once again this year, I will be guiding Brett [Sims], a visually impaired runner, to the finish line. I had the honor of guiding Brett in 2022 and look forward to ‘chasing the unicorn’ with him again. Brett has choroideremia, an eye condition that causes him to experience night blindness and very limited peripheral vision, and unfortunately his vision will continue to deteriorate until he is completely blind.

“This is why the Carroll Center for the Blind’s mission is so important. Your support will help empower blind and visually impaired individuals like Brett to maintain their independence and lead their life to the fullest.”

As of early April, Dalmata was closing in on her $5,000 fundraising goal.

Lafreniere back for Sophie’s Hope

Hopkinton resident Jamas Lafreniere returns to the start line for the second straight year to raise funds for Sophie’s Hope Foundation (sophieshopefoundation.org), the nonprofit he cofounded to help children like his daughter, Sophie, who suffers from glycogen storage disease Type 1b (GSD1b).

Last year’s run brought in $53,000, and Lafreniere reported in late March that this year he was on track to top the $60,000 mark. Combining those totals with the amount his wife, Margot, raised running in 2022, the Boston Marathon fundraising is on pace to top $130,000 in three years.

Jamas Lafreniere holds his daughter, Sophie, during a quick stop in last year’s Boston Marathon.

Lafreniere shared that the organization recently hired its first employee, an executive director who will “continue and broaden our mission and help families affected by GSD1b across the globe.” Sophie’s Hope also invested more than $200,000 in research across multiple projects and multiple institutions across the globe, created virtual support groups for patients and caregivers affected by GSD1b, expanded its scientific advisory board, and began and expanded collaboration with multiple pharmaceutical companies to develop genetic treatments for GSD1b, Lafreniere indicated.

“We are currently fundraising to fund a five-year, $1.5 million project to develop an international multisite natural history study for GSD1b,” Lafreniere added. “This will help us continue to better understand the disease, develop genetic treatments for them, and better prepare for clinical trials and FDA approvals of any new treatments.”

Scouting leaders make strides

Hopkinton’s Ed Beauvais and Tara Medich are running to support the Hopkinton Scout Leaders Association.

“As an Eagle Scout myself and a parent with children deeply involved in scouting, this cause holds a special place in my heart,” Beauvais wrote on his fundraising page (givengain.com/project/louis-raising-funds-for-hopkinton-scout-leaders-association-73017). “My daughter has achieved the Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts. My sons have been involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for nine years. My wife served as a board member for the HSLA. I have volunteered as a Hopkinton Scout Leader. Every year our family volunteers for the annual Scouting for Food drive, which brings in over 8 tons of food each year for Project Just Because right here in town.”

Adds Medich (givengain.com/project/tara-raising-funds-for-hopkinton-scout-leaders-association-73086): “We can provide essential resources and opportunities for Scouts to learn valuable life skills, engage in community service, and foster a sense of adventure. Your generosity will empower these young individuals to become responsible, compassionate and confident leaders of tomorrow.”

Lewke on course for Lions Club

Damien Lewke gets around. Born in Northern California, he grew up in Germany, attended college and started his professional career in Los Angeles, worked for two years in Australia, and landed in Boston to attend graduate school at MIT.

A onetime semiprofessional soccer player, Lewke has volunteered for service organizations, beginning with house-building in Mexico in middle school. He also has volunteered at shelters in South Boston.

That makes him a perfect fit to run for the Hopkinton Lions Club, whose motto is “We serve.”

“The Lions Club, renowned for its humanitarian efforts, engages in key initiatives that positively impact the local community,” Lewke wrote on his fundraising page (givengain.com/project/damien-raising-funds-for-the-hopkinton-lions-club-72287). “From organizing vision screenings and eye care programs to supporting local schools and community projects, the Lions Club plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of unity and well-being.

Lewke ran the Boston Marathon in 2022 and has six half-marathons under his belt as well.

Penney races for KeepSmilin4Abbie

Ryan Penney is attempting his first Boston Marathon, and second marathon overall, and he’s raised well over $22,000 for the Hopkinton-based KeepSmilin4Abbie Foundation, named for a Hopkinton teenager who died from anaphylaxis in 2013.

“I have yet to train for a marathon through the winter. Running in Abbie’s memory and for the KeepSmilin4Abbie Foundation will give me all the strength and motivation I will need to get through the next 16 weeks of training as well as across the finish line at the Boston Marathon,” he wrote on his fundraising page (givengain.com/project/ryan-raising-funds-for-keepsmilin4abbie-foundation-71663).

Stephen Benford, Abbie’s father and the foundation’s cofounder and executive director, indicated the funds raised are going to good use.

“We continue to be focused on our mission to #stopanaphylaxis,” he wrote via email. “One in 20 in the U.S. is at risk of anaphylaxis, that’s about three times more than Alzheimer’s and about 36 times more than Parkinson’s disease. We think the unmet need is early detection of the reaction itself, so we prioritize funding research into the biomarkers of anaphylaxis in the hope of putting a diagnostic in the hands of those at risk, because in a reaction the patient has minutes to recognize the symptoms and intervene with epinephrine. We also fund awareness programs and two $2,500 scholarships at Hopkinton High School.”

Campion supports seniors

Maggie Campion grew up in Ashland, and her parents both were runners and “proud Boston Marathon finishers.” This year, she decided it was her turn, and she’ll run to raise money for the Friends of the Hopkinton Seniors.

“As a 2023 Worcester State nursing program graduate, I am passionate about helping others,” she shared at her fundraising page (mightycause.com/story/O6c82f). “I told myself it was now or never to check off that bucket list item of running Boston.”

Campion trained with a friend, noting, “We have both dreamed of this for years and are excited to train for this once-in-a-lifetime experience together.”

Lipinski lines up for Mental Health Collaborative

Paul Lipinski is “blessed to be able to run.” In this year’s Boston Marathon, he’ll be running to benefit the Hopkinton-based Mental Health Collaborative, which is dedicated to building resilient communities through mental health education and awareness.

“I do not run fast, but I always run with purpose,” he wrote on his fundraising page (gofundme.com/f/paul-is-running-the-boston-marathon-for-the-mhc). “I also wake up every day and repeat a simple mantra: How can I make my family better today; how can I make humankind better today?”

Benincaso backs Respite Center

Among the runners supporting the Michael Lisnow Respite Center on Main Street is Hopkinton High School graduate Aamir Benincaso, who shares that the organization is “very close to my heart.”

“The reason why I am running for The Michael Lisnow Respite Center is because I have family members and friends who have been diagnosed with autism and other disabilities,” he writes on his fundraising page (givengain.com/project/aamir-benincaso-raising-funds-for-michael-lisnow-respite-center). “I am an independent contractor through the Department of Developmental Services and provide support for individuals with disabilities. I am supporting my brother and many other community members who are impacted by disabilities to enable them to lead happy, productive and fulfilling lives. I have a strong message for families who share our common cause: Have hope and be strong. Believe in your child, never give up, and you will be amazed at what your child can accomplish no matter what the goal may be!”

Duo run for HHS senior class

Running for the Hopkinton High School class of 2024 are senior (and class treasurer) Nina Brookes and teacher/class advisor Mike Webb.

“The money we raise will go towards subsidizing events to ensure greater class participation and that no student feels left out,” explains Webb at his fundraising page (gofund.me/3d106837). “A member of the high school community has run the Boston Marathon for many consecutive years, and getting the opportunity to have two runners on the 100th anniversary [of Hopkinton as the starting point] is extra special in keeping the tradition alive.”

The money will help make up for lost dues during the class’ freshman year, when activities were canceled due to the COVID pandemic.

Avvari all in for HCA

Hopkinton’s Santosh Avvari will fulfill a longstanding goal when he runs this year’s Boston Marathon. In the process, he’s raising funds for the Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

“Running has always been my passion throughout my life, and the Boston Marathon, my dream,” he wrote on his fundraising page (givengain.com/project/santosh-raising-funds-for-hopkinton-center-for-the-arts-69232). “I have picked up a love for long-distance running recently and completed a 10K and a half-marathon [last] year. As I look forward for my next goal of participating and finishing the Boston Marathon, I could not find a better cause than supporting Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA), a wonderful organization that promotes arts and cultural education in our community.”

Lane returns for HCCCF

Looking to beat his finishing time of 3 hours, 23 minutes, 46 seconds from last year, Dave Lane Jr. returns with another goal: to again raise at least $7,500 for the Hopkinton Country Club Charitable Foundation (givengain.com/campaign/support-hcccf-via-the-2024-boston-marathon).

“Our very own Dave Lane’s son, Dave Lane Jr., is back at it and running the Boston Marathon again in support of the HCCCF,” foundation president Fred Wahlers shared. “All proceeds raised will go to support charities that the HCCCF work with every year. This includes supporting charities in our local communities that provide economic assistance and youth development for those most in need.”

Trivedi to take on London

While the world’s focus will turn toward the Boston Marathon on April 15, Darsh Trivedi will be intent on his London Marathon run the following Sunday, April 21.

Trivedi, a Dell EMC employee and Legacy Farms resident, said he chose to run in London rather than Hopkinton solely because of its flat terrain.

He ran the Boston Marathon last year, raising $11,000 as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team to support a young cancer patient and in memory of his late father and grandfather, who died from cancer. A hamstring injury he suffered at Heartbreak Hill has hampered him since then, leading to iliotibial band syndrome. But he has taken it in stride for the ultimate goal of helping the organization Children with Cancer UK (2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/darsh-trivedi).

“I got an email that it was the last day to register for the London Marathon,” he said of his spur-of-the-moment decision. “I thought my pain is much less than any kid going through cancer.”