This week, Colin Gerner, President, CEO and Co-Founder of StacheStrong, is toeing the start line of the 2026 Boston Marathon. Not just as a runner, but as the number two global fundraiser in the entire race. Running Boston provided the platform to announce a landmark $1,000,000 grant, a moment that represents everything this community has been building toward. Earlier this month, Boston.com featured Colin in their “Why I’m Running” series. We are sharing his words here, because they say it better than anyone else could.
Originally published by Boston.com on April 10, 2026. Written by Colin Gerner. Read the original article here.
In 2018, my brother GJ was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer. GJ battled hard for 25 months before passing away on September 17, 2019 at just 30 years old.
During that time, my family saw firsthand how relentless this disease is and how few treatment options exist. Survival rates have not meaningfully improved in decades, and too many patients are still facing the same prognosis.
After GJ’s diagnosis, we decided to change that. GJ and I founded StacheStrong, a nonprofit named after the mustache he grew to lighten the mood before brain surgery. What started as a family mantra and a way to honor my brother’s perseverance has grown into a national organization that has raised millions of dollars for innovative and impactful brain cancer research.
I am running the 2026 Boston Marathon to support that mission and am currently the number two global fundraiser for the race. This has allowed us to announce a $1,000,000, five-year grant, awarded by StacheStrong and the V Foundation for Cancer Research to accelerate research. The grant will support researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital who study how glioblastoma evolves, identify new ways to target it, and develop more effective, longer-lasting treatments.
The first marathon I ran helped raise $50,000, launched StacheStrong, and GJ joined me for the last six miles, in the middle of treatment. Since then, StacheStrong has grown to 150+ global marathon runners supporting brain cancer research.
That NYC Marathon is still the most special run of my life, but the 2026 Boston Marathon will be the most impactful as I eclipse $200,000 fundraised to fully fund year one of the grant, all invested right here in Boston. For me, this is one step, or 26.2 miles, closer to flipping the script on brain cancer.
This is what StacheStrong is built on. Seven years of showing up, mile after mile, grant after grant.
The $1,000,000 grant announced alongside this race is the biggest single research commitment in the organisation’s history, and the momentum behind it comes from every runner, every donor, and every person who has chosen to be part of this community.
The fight against GBM is far from over. But moments like this prove that progress is possible, and that the StacheStrong community is capable of extraordinary things when it moves together.
If Colin’s story has inspired you and you want to get involved, whether by donating, joining Team StacheStrong for an upcoming marathon, or simply sharing this post, you can find out more at stachestrong.org/events.
Every mile matters. Every dollar matters. Let’s keep going.