Canton Runner and Her Best Friend, Both Treated for Breast Cancer, Will Run Boston Marathon Side by Side
Meg Gannon of Canton and a friend from Boston College, who were diagnosed with the same cancer six months apart, plan to run every mile of the April 20 race together for Mass General.
By Ishani Kapalli ·
When Meg Gannon answered the phone on Feb. 8, 2024, a doctor from Mass General Brigham gave them news no one wants to hear: "You have cancer." Gannon, a 47-year-old from Canton who will have that age on race day, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Gannon's first worry was how to tell their teenage sons and young daughter. A veteran of seven marathons, Gannon turned to running as an escape, and it helped keep them calm during a deeply uncertain stretch. When Gannon talked with family, friends and colleagues about the illness, they framed beating it as another marathon, and said they hoped to run one more for the hospital that would help them through it.
The following month was filled with appointments to prepare for a double mastectomy and the recovery that would follow. The surgery was extremely successful, Gannon said, but setbacks in the spring and fall called for additional operations. Those delays put plans to run the Boston Marathon in 2025 on hold.
During that period, Gannon began a five-year course of tamoxifen. Gannon credits the care of oncologist Dr. Douglas Micalizzi at Mass General, calling the doctor "amazing" and saying they felt fortunate to be in good hands.
Now, about two weeks from the date of this article, Gannon is set to line up on April 20, 2026, for an eighth marathon and a sixth Boston, running on behalf of Mass General. The route covers the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston.
Gannon will not be alone. Peggy, Gannon's best friend from Boston College, will run alongside them, also raising money for Mass General. Peggy was diagnosed with the same cancer six months after Gannon. Peggy had previously lost a first husband to sarcoma.
The two plan to cover every mile together. Gannon described the run as a celebration of life, survivorship and friendship, and as a tribute to everyone fighting cancer.
"Cancer tried to slow us down, but it messed with the wrong girls," Gannon said. By crossing the finish line, the pair hope to show others that patience and perseverance can lead to triumph over the disease.
Gannon's account is part of Boston.com's "Why I'm Running" series, in which Boston Marathon participants describe what motivates them to take on the course. The entry was lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
Source: Boston.com
