Heather Santucci stands alongside her daughters, 3-year-old Claire (left) and 1-year-old Julia.

Heather Santucci plans to finish the Boston Marathon in seconds.

“I grew up with a dad who told me: You can do anything for 30 seconds,” she said.

So, one second at a time, she said, “I can do this for a couple of hours.”

Her father also provided a different sort of inspiration for her run.

He attempted the marathon years ago but had to “give up at the bottom of Heartbreak Hill.”

That disappointment lit a fire in his daughter. “My whole life it was like, I have to beat him. It’s always been on my bucket list.”

Although this will be her first time running the iconic race, she has witnessed the marathon “up close and personal.”

Living at the second mile of the route, every year she would watch the runners and think, “I can do that. This year I said, I can do that and I will do that.”

This will be her first full marathon. She has run 5Ks “just for fun,” 10Ks and two half-marathons, including one in November.

She ran the half-marathon in place of a friend who had become sick and was unable to compete.

About a week after she finished, she saw on Facebook that Project Just Because was looking for marathon participants to support the nonprofit based on South Street.

“They do amazing work for people in the community, and I am proud to be running on their behalf,” she said, setting a goal to raise $10,000.

Project Just Because helps struggling families in their times of greatest need by supplying necessities such as clothing, food and school supplies.

The organization describes itself as being “dedicated to serving as many men, women and children as possible in a caring and dignified environment. As a conduit between those who want to give and those in need, Project Just Because fosters a stronger, more empathetic community.”

PJB also helps people help others. “It is also our goal to educate families that want to help people but don’t know how,” the organization states in its description. “Our team can help generous families help others.”

PJB’s purpose touched Santucci’s heart.

Growing up in Leicester, she was taught that “your neighbors are your friends. You help people around you.”

At Project Just Because, “that’s what they do.”

The staff at PJB were warm and welcoming to her and her family when they visited the facility to learn more about their efforts. “They were like family,” Santucci said. “They gave my daughters hugs.”

Her daughters, Claire, 3, and Julia, 1, inspire her.

“I am so glad to have the opportunity to show my daughters what it means to work hard to achieve a goal,” she said. “And I am so grateful for all of our family and friends who will help me along the way.”

The support of her family, including her husband, Andrew, and her friends have kept her running. They have provided moral support and also helped her meet her fundraising goal.

Her supporters will be cheering her on at her home near the 2-mile mark.

“My hope is I can carry their energy through the rest of the race,” she said. She plans to rely on “that mile 2 energy in mile 24, when I know I’ll need it.”

Her future marathon plans are uncertain. “I keep telling my family, ask me on April 21,” she said with a laugh. “Either this will become a lifestyle or something to check off my bucket list. To be determined.”

Whether it’s her one-and-done marathon or the start of a long tradition, she does know her approach.

“I am here for a fun time, not a fast time,” she said. “So just get it on.”