Friends Grace Vaughan (left) and Samantha Purpura, pictured after running a half marathon in Portland, Maine, will run together in the Boston Marathon for the South Boston Neighborhood House.

Hopkinton native Samantha Purpura lives about a five-minute walk from the Boston Marathon start line. Growing up, she fantasized about running in it, first inspired by her aunt’s participation for several years.

Now she will realize her dream, fueled by friendship and a desire to help those who live beyond the finish line. She is raising money for the South Boston Neighborhood House, a settlement house serving the needs of all ages.

In a recent interview with the Independent, she glowed with enthusiasm as she spoke about her love for both communities and how she became connected with fellow runners training in Boston.

“I just can’t believe it,” said Purpura. “Sometimes it just feels so surreal that I am running in the Boston Marathon. The marathon has always been a staple in our community. Growing up, I saw all of the crowds of people come here to run this iconic race, and now I am with them.”

The 23-year-old first became interested in running after watching her aunt run the marathon several times. She calls her “one of my biggest role models.” Purpura ran for Hopkinton High School’s cross country team during her senior year, “and I have been running ever since.”

While attending Providence College, she met her best friend, Grace Vaughan. Their mutual interest in running led to an encounter that changed the course of their relationship.

“We’ve done two or three half marathons prior together,” she said. “We’ve been running together for over a year now. We wanted to take the next step, so we’ve been training together for the marathon.”

Support for ‘the Ollie’

Purpura and Vaughan are running in support of the South Boston Neighborhood House (givengain.com/project/samantha-raising-funds-for-south-boston-neighborhood-house-86454.). Affectionately known as “the Ollie” after Olivia James, who founded it in 1901, it is the oldest continuously operated, community-based nonprofit in South Boston. They are part of Team Ollie.

“Grace’s family is from South Boston,” she explained, “so she has always been very familiar with the organization. My boyfriend lives right down the street from the South Boston Neighborhood House, so that was how I was introduced to them.”

South Boston Neighborhood House runs a preschool and hosts after-school activities for older children. For teens, it has career development and college prep “Get Ready with Me” workshops.

“They are just the most amazing organization,” Purpura said. “They really just care for every single person in the South Boston community in need of help.”

While the organization focuses on youth and providing necessities for mothers in need, Purpura said she is most impressed with its outreach to and inclusion of South Boston’s older residents.

“I feel like the elderly can be so easily forgotten sometimes,” she explained. “It’s so beautiful that they have senior citizen activities that really focus on anti-isolation. They really try to have as many events as possible for them. It’s such a beautiful organization to be introduced to.”

Added Purpura: “It’s just so neat that they really care about every stage of life. To me, that’s so unique.”

Connections with fellow runners

Because of her involvement in South Boston, Purpura said she has met and trained with runners for other Boston charities.

“Every Saturday, we’ll start at the Lululemon on Newbury Street,” she said. “ It’s been so nice to meet other people. It’s just been the best experience. [On a recent] Saturday, Grace and I ran 20 miles together with them.”

Purpura is grateful for the opportunity to run, as Achilles tendinitis in December and early January sidelined her from training. She credits acupuncture with her ability to rebound quickly.

“In the beginning of training, it was so aggravating,” she said. “Obviously, I’ve run half marathons, but it’s so different when you’re doing double that. I was being dramatic and wondering if I was going to be able to run the marathon. But of course I saw the right people. Acupuncture changed by life, and I’d really recommend it to anyone.”

She quickly got back on track, running three times a week, even during the most frigid weather.

“I feel like part of the training in the cold probably should have been more aggravating than it was to me,” she said with a laugh. “But I kept smiling because I was so happy to be able to do it.”

The emotional impact of training for this prestigious race has affected Purpura most deeply.

“You get so excited that if you kind of face a setback, I think it can hit you a little harder, just because this race is so emotional for so many people,” she explained. “And when you want it so badly and something doesn’t go your way, I think it’s a little easier to overthink it. If I didn’t have my best friend beside me, I think my motivation would be a little lower.”

Training along the marathon route was equally impactful for Purpura.

“It’s always been amazing, but I really didn’t understand the significance of it until I was really a part of it,” she shared. “Just the little things, like the Johnny Kelley statue we run past [in Newton]. I didn’t know the story behind that legendary runner until this year. Finding little treasures like that during the training has been so inspiring.”

Now that she has been interacting and training with fellow runners, Purpura said she is deeply moved by what motivates each one.

“Everyone running the marathon has their story about their reasons for running it,” she stressed. “And they’re all so different and so personal. It’s such an amazing group of people who are so committed to it.”

She added that she hopes to be an example of both Hopkinton and Boston pride on the big day.

“The South Boston Neighborhood House had so many applications for runners,” said Purpura. “I’m really lucky to be introduced to their community and be running for them. I just feel so blessed that my body is able to do this and that I have this opportunity to be part of such a historic marathon for Hopkinton but also for an amazing organization.”