Boston Marathon Profile: Kimberly Anne Cox

MARLBOROUGH, MA — Marlborough has 13 residents running in this year's Boston Marathon.

Marlborough Patch highlights those runners in the next few weeks.

Today, we meet Kimberly Anne Cox, who is 42. Good luck, Kimberly!

Reason for running: I'm running on the Dana Farber Cancer Research team. I'm running in honor of Stephen Kanode. He was a wonderful man, great dad and husband and amazing assistant principal at the Stanley Elementary School in Waltham. He passed away in January after a long battle with brain cancer, but following his diagnosis received an experimental treatment created from funds from the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge. Steve was able to live two years symptom free. One of the things he found enjoyment from during this time was running 5K races. It is for humans, for all who suffer(ed) from cancer, that I run. I've raised $5,000 so far and plan to raise $10,000. I've had fundraisers, basket raffles and sold squares. I made runner plaques in my dads wood-shop to sell. I'm having a paint night and a night of giving this month.

Marathon experience: This is my first marathon.

Training tip: If I can train and run a marathon, anyone can. It's amazing what your body can do when you set your mind to it. I have a family with 3 young kids, a commute, and a full time teaching job. Anything is possible. And you'll be surprised how amazing you feel when you run 16, 18 plus miles. It's exhilarating.

Photo submitted

Are you running the Boston Marathon? We'd love to feature you, too. Email charlene.arsenault@patch.com.