Running the Boston Marathon is more than a physical feat for Jennifer Bremant O’Brien, a dedicated Miles & Memories Marathon Team runner and TCR alum. She came to The Children’s Room in 2016 after the death of her husband, Webster, and has since run two marathons to shine a light on the cause that has given so much to her.
Jennifer started running in 2019, just before a breast cancer diagnosis. Undeterred by surgery, chemo, and a hip stress fracture, she came back stronger in 2020. Now, she’s gearing up for another– this time alongside her fiance, Martin Chang, who is also running on behalf of TCR.
For Jennifer, each step is a testament to overcoming life’s trials, showing resilience to her children and others, and embracing the next chapter with Martin.
Read on as Jennifer shares how she overcame her ‘nevers,’ found unexpected love, and how she is making a difference through miles and memories.
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So cliche and yet so true – never say never – not ever.
I never thought my family would need the support of The Children’s Room. I never thought that my healthy and joy-filled husband Webster would die at 52 in 2015 after being diagnosed with a rare GI cancer just 18 months earlier. I never thought I would be a widow just shy of our 20th wedding anniversary or that I would be the single parent for my two teenage children. I never thought I would run one – let alone three – Boston Marathons to support The Children’s Room’s fantastic work and keep myself motivated and active and, therefore, a better mother.
And on the topic of never – I never expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer just a month after running the marathon in 2019; I never expected to be able to rerun the marathon in 2020 after surgery and chemotherapy; and none of us expected COVID-19. Amidst all these nevers, I even made people at TCR promise never to let me sign up to rerun this marathon.
But another never story was happening along with the marathons and the cancer and the pandemic. I never thought I would meet another love of my life – someone I didn’t want to live without, someone to combine lives and families into something more than we had on our own. But then I met Martin Chang – and I’m rerunning this marathon, and he is running right alongside me, something he never thought he would be doing.
So please join me – join us – in raising funds for The Children’s Room, a charity dedicated to providing support and healing to children who have experienced loss. With your donations, we can ensure that these children receive the care and resources they need to navigate their grief and build resilience. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of these young individuals and help them find hope and happiness again.
Support Jennifer today, CLICK HERE.
