Running for Support: Cyndi Holohan Takes on the Boston Marathon for Children Who Are Grieving

Some people run for the challenge. Others for the joy of it. For Cyndi Holohan, running is about something deeper—creating space for grief, healing, and connection.

This year, she’s taking on one of her biggest milestones yet: running the Boston Marathon in support of The Children’s Room, helping ensure that no child has to grieve alone.

A Personal Commitment to Supporting Grieving Children

Cyndi understands the long reach of grief and how it can shape a young person’s life. As an adult, she found herself drawn to organizations that create space for kids and teens to feel seen, supported, and less alone. This led her to Comfort Zone Camp, a nonprofit that offers free grief camps for children who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling. That realization became a mission. Since 2022, Cyndi has been a dedicated volunteer with Comfort Zone Camp, serving on the Massachusetts Regional Advisory Council and as Co-Chair of the Board. The more she witnessed the impact of these programs, the more committed she became to making them accessible to the kids who need them most.

That’s how she came to learn about The Children’s Room, which frequently refers families to Comfort Zone Camp and vice versa.

“My hope is that all kids who need them know about them and can be positively impacted through these programs,” she said.

A Marathon With Meaning

Running has been a part of Cyndi’s life since high school, and over the years, she has taken on races of all distances—from 5Ks to destination half marathons in Nashville and San Diego and the Grief Relief 5K for Comfort Zone Camp.

But the Boston Marathon is different.

“As important as running this race is to me, it’s just as important that my fundraising efforts go toward one of my favorite causes,” she said. “In this last year, more kids in my personal network have needed services that The Children’s Room provides and my heart aches for them. Please help me lift these kids up.”

Every Mile for a Child Who’s Grieving

Cyndi is running for the kids who feel alone in their grief. For the families trying to rebuild after loss. For a future where no child has to go without support.

With every mile, she’s turning her run into something bigger—ensuring that children and families can find connection, guidance, and hope when they need it most.

To support Cyndi’s fundraising campaign and learn more about her run, visit childrensroom.org/boston-marathon.