Running with Purpose: Emily Haroz Honors Her Daughter Noa in Her First Boston Marathon

For Emily Haroz, running has always been about movement—not just in the physical sense, but as a way to process, reflect, and heal. This year, as she prepares for her first Boston Marathon, she is running with a purpose far greater than personal achievement. On April 21, 2025, every step she takes will be in honor of her daughter, Noa Haroz Taylor, and to support The Children’s Room, an organization that helped her family find community after loss.

A Marathon of Grief and Love

“I was 37.5 weeks pregnant when we found out Noa had died,” Emily shared. “Two days later, after a long labor and delivery, I held my dead baby. It’s hard to describe how dark those days were.”

In the aftermath, Emily and her family sought a place where their grief could be acknowledged and shared. They found The Children’s Room, where their older children could talk about Noa, and where Emily and her husband, Jake, could connect with others who understood the weight of their loss.

“TCR was a place for us to acknowledge Noa’s existence and mourn her as a family,” she said. “It meant everything to have a space where we didn’t have to explain our grief, where we were simply understood.”

A Lifelong Runner, A First-Time Boston Marathoner

Running has been part of Emily’s life since her 20s, a tradition inspired by her father, who has completed 19 marathons and continues to run at 79 years old. Over the years, it became a tool for managing anxiety, building confidence, and staying connected to her dad.

“My dad and I have run countless miles together,” she said. “He even helped me start running again after we lost Noa. Running has helped me cope and navigate some of the hardest times in my life.”

Despite her years of running experience, Emily has never run the Boston Marathon—until now. Balancing training with parenting three children, ages 10, 8, and 4, is no small feat, but this race holds a special significance.

This year, her family is preparing for a move out of Massachusetts, the place where Noa is buried. As they prepare to say goodbye to a home full of memories, Emily sees this marathon as a way to honor Noa’s life and ensure her legacy continues, no matter where they go.

“Running Boston to honor Noa and support The Children’s Room will be one of the greatest honors of my life,” she said. “I want Noa’s legacy to live on by ensuring other families have access to the same support that meant so much to us.”

How You Can Support Emily’s Run

For Emily, this marathon is more than just a race—it is a way to carry Noa’s memory forward and give back to families facing similar grief.

You can support Emily by donating to her fundraising campaign, helping to ensure that The Children’s Room can continue providing free grief support to families in need.

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