GJ loved to run. It wasn’t just exercise, but it was joy. The kind of joy that’s hard to explain to someone who doesn’t feel it, but if you know, you know. There’s something about putting one foot in front of the other, mile after mile, that strips everything else away. Just you, the road, and whatever you’ve got left in the tank.
When GJ was diagnosed with glioblastoma in September 2017, he kept running. Through treatment. Through chemotherapy. Through everything. Because that’s who he was. He didn’t stop being GJ just because GBM showed up.
He continued to run through his diagnosis to show others he was OK – that was his why. What’s your why?
Why International Marathons?
Brain cancer doesn’t stop at borders, and neither does the StacheStrong community.
Supporters around the world have lost someone to this disease. Others are fighting it right now. And many simply believe – like Colin and the whole StacheStrong family – that the survival rate for this desease has to change. International marathons give the community the chance to show up in cities across the globe, to carry your story into places they’ve never been, and to raise vital funds for brain cancer research along the way.
Every mile run in Berlin, Boston, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dublin, New York, Paris, Rome, Sydney, Tokyo, or anywhere else in the world is a mile run for the next family sitting in a hospital hallway at midnight, trying to make sense of the worst news they’ve ever received.
That’s the meaning behind the miles.
The Marathons
StacheStrong has charity bibs available for the following international marathons in 2026 and beyond. Whether you already have a bib and want to run under the StacheStrong banner, or you’re looking for a reason to finally sign up for that race you’ve been putting off, Team StacheStrong wants you!
| Race | Date |
| Rome Marathon | March 22, 2026 |
| Copenhagen Marathon | May 10, 2026 |
| Cape Town Marathon | May 24, 2026 |
| Sydney Marathon | August 30, 2026 |
| Berlin Marathon | September 27, 2026 |
| Chicago Marathon | October 11, 2026 |
| Dublin Marathon | October 25, 2026 |
| TCS New York City Marathon | November 1, 2026 |
| Tokyo Marathon | 2027 |
And if you’re already registered for one of these races, StacheStrong would love for you to run as part of the team. Get in touch via the link below and they’ll get you set up.
Apply to Run an International Marathon for StacheStrong →
What Running for StacheStrong Actually Means
Running an international marathon as part of Team StacheStrong isn’t just about putting a bib on and crossing a finish line. It’s about becoming part of something much bigger.
It’s joining a community of runners who understand that a 26.2-mile race is the perfect metaphor for what GBM families go through every single day. The walls you hit. The moments where everything in you wants to stop. The people cheering from the sidelines. The sheer grit it takes to keep going.
GJ knew that feeling better than most. He didn’t stop. And because he didn’t stop, neither does StacheStrong.
The Fundraising Impact Is Real
The fundraising that comes from the marathon community is among the most significant of anything StacheStrong does all year. The dollars raised go directly to funding research grants at institutions across the country and beyond.
In eight-plus years, StacheStrong has funded over $7 million in brain cancer research, awarding 65+ grants at 40+ institutions. Every single dollar came from people who decided to show up – to run, to donate, to fundraise, to believe that things could be different.
Marathon fundraising moves the needle. The combination of personal commitment, community sponsorship, and the visibility of running 26.2 miles in a major international city creates momentum that’s hard to match. People rally behind runners. They give because they know it matters.
And it does matter. Every grant gets the research community closer to the day when a brain cancer diagnosis doesn’t come with a unacceptable prognosis. Every dollar is a step in the right direction.
You Don’t Have to Be an Elite Runner
This couldn’t be more important to say: you don’t need to be fast. You don’t need to have run a marathon before. What you need is the willingness to commit, to train, to fundraise, and to show up.
Plenty of people on Team StacheStrong have never run a marathon before signing up. Some of them have gone on to run multiple ones. The community built around these events is one of the most supportive, encouraging, passionate groups of people you’ll ever be part of. They show up for each other in the same way they show up for the mission.
Run With Us
If you’re interested in running an international marathon for StacheStrong – whether you already have a bib or you’re looking to get one – fill out the form below. The team will be in touch to walk you through what’s available, how the fundraising works, and how to officially join Team StacheStrong.
There’s a lot of ground left to cover. Let’s cover it together.