When Cailin Joyce moved to Hopkinton with her husband and daughter, they were drawn to the town’s highly ranked school system.

But something else about Hopkinton appealed to her.

It was the fact that their new hometown also serves as the start of the Boston Marathon.

For Joyce, an avid runner, the town’s affection for the marathon was a definite perk.

“I love how the town celebrates it like a holiday,” she said of Marathon Monday. “We love living here and celebrating the marathon every year. I love the vibrant running community in Hopkinton.”

She belongs to two running clubs, Hopkinton Running Club and Moms Run This Town.

She has been a dedicated runner for years. She has completed 10 marathons in 20 years, including runs in Chicago, Cape Cod and San Francisco.

But she hasn’t run the Boston Marathon.

So she worked hard, with three years of focused training. The countless hours paid off in September when she ran a qualifying time of 3 hours, 35 minutes.

While she typically runs anywhere from 15-30 miles a week, during her peak marathon training, she ups that to 45 miles.

“Now my goal is to turn all that hard work into something good for the community” by running the marathon as a fundraiser for the Hopkinton Parent Teacher Organization (HPTO), she said.

SUBHED: Schools provide inspiration

This is her way of “paying it forward” to bolster an organization and school district that means so much to her family.

She describes herself as a “proud mom’’ to daughter Annabel, who is a second grader at Elmwood.

Through the Hopkinton schools, Annabel “has developed a joy of learning and love for her Hiller community,” Joyce said. “I’ve seen the same pride and confidence growing among her friends and classmates.”

Joyce credits these uplifting experiences to the people “behind the magic.”

“We have seen so many examples of teachers, admins and staff going above and beyond for the growth and well-being of Hopkinton’s students,” she said. “It would be a real honor to partner with the HPTO to support all the amazing work they do.”

In appreciation, Joyce has developed a fundraising initiative called Miles That Matter. This reflects her appreciation for the “kind, capable and dedicated teachers at Marathon and Elmwood” schools.

Donors who contribute $50 to her campaign (hopkintonpto.membershiptoolkit.com/fundraiser/3292) are asked to provide the name of a teacher, staff member or administrator who “goes the extra mile to make our schools great.”

Those honored receive a Miles That Matter certificate, and their names will be incorporated into Joyce’s marathon apparel.

“The funds raised through Cailin’s efforts will directly support programs and experiences that enrich our students’ education across all five schools,” shared Dana Passante, co-president of the HPTO. “This kind of community-driven support allows us to continue providing opportunities that go beyond the classroom, and we are so grateful for her dedication.”

Sarah Navin, the other HPTO co-president, echoed that enthusiasm.

“Cailin’s commitment to both the Boston Marathon and to supporting our schools is incredibly meaningful,” she said. “It takes a tremendous amount of time, energy and heart to train for a marathon, and the fact that she is channeling that effort into fundraising for our students makes it even more special. She is a wonderful role model for our community.”

Joyce plans to make the most of her marathon experience.

“It’s going to be a take a lot of selfies, kiss a lot of babies kind of day.”