Andrew Racca will have plenty to smile about should he finish the Boston Marathon on April 20.

Andrew Racca is running the Boston Marathon on behalf of the Lake Maspenock Preservation Association, an organization that is “dedicated to the health and beauty of Lake Maspenock and its surrounding environment in Hopkinton, Upton and Milford,” he explained.

“I’ve chosen to support the LMPA mission after my parents recently retired and decided to fulfill their dream of having the new hangout spot for myself, brother, sisters, and all our friends when they decided to retire and move to the lake!” Racca shared on his fundraising page.

Racca calls himself an “avid runner.”

“Distance running runs deep in my family,” he shared. “I’m one of three family members to have completed the marathon distance with my uncle being the only one of us to have participated in the Boston Marathon (12 times in the name of charity!).”

Bad break doesn’t stop Eder’s effort

John Eder’s journey to Boston hit a roadblock when he broke his right ankle while running his hometown Dallas Marathon in December. “It’s quite amazing how big an ankle can swell with 25 miles left to finish a race,” he noted.

Eder, who is running Boston to support the Friends of Hopkinton Special Education Parent Advisory Council, planned to turn his focus to fundraising while he took time off from running and “reflect on the positive impact we’re making as a team,” he wrote. “I’ve always highly valued education in all forms and at all levels. So I’m really appreciating the opportunity to … make a tangible, impactful contribution [to] further enable the education of deserving students and families.”

Specifically, the money raised is targeted for Navigator Scholarships, which help students afford college or vocational training.

Flis flies in for Friends of Hopkinton

Veteran marathoner Kristi Flis will attempt her first Boston this year, calling it “a dream of mine.” In the process, the Florida resident is raising funds for the Friends of Hopkinton.

“Running has completely transformed my life,” Flis wrote on her fundraising page. “What started as a way to meet new people after moving from Pennsylvania to Florida became my greatest source of strength, connection, and purpose. Never did I imagine that the girl who once avoided the timed mile in high school (by taking an online bowling class—yes, really!) would one day proudly call herself a marathoner. Yet here I am, chasing the dream of Boston.

“Boston is often called ‘the unicorn of all races’ — elusive, magical, and inspiring runners to chase what once felt impossible,” Flis continued. “To me, it represents heart, grit, and the relentless pursuit of something greater than ourselves. In December 2024, just four months before the London Marathon, I suffered a traumatic head injury, fracturing my occipital bone. Recovery was long and challenging, but with determination and the unwavering support of family and friends, I healed, trained, and ultimately crossed the finish line in London — my fourth major marathon. That experience showed me the power of resilience and reminded me that we are capable of more than we ever imagine.”

Luo logs strides for SACH

Siwei Luo has run 14 marathons, two 50-kilometer races and numerous other long-distance runs. This year, she’ll take on the Boston Marathon on behalf of the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton.

An IT specialist working for the government in Washington, D.C., Luo is aiming to complete the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which consists of six marathons across the world. She’s already run Chicago, Berlin, London, New York City and Tokyo, leaving Boston as last on her list.

According to her fundraising page, Luo is a back-of-the-pack runner — “someone who runs for joy, community, and perseverance.” She also has served as a running coach and organized fundraising fun runs for a local elementary school.

Kerman serves up fundraiser for Lions

Therese Kerman shared that the Hopkinton Lions’ motto, “We serve,” “fits so closely with my own way of seeing the world and helping others.”

This is why the New Hampshire resident is proud to raise funds for the organization as part of her Boston Marathon experience.

“They truly are a COMMUNITY-based service group,” she wrote, noting the Lions’ efforts to support humanitarian projects both locally and around the world.