As excitement builds for the 129th Boston Marathon, a group of Beaver alumni are hard at work making preparations for the big day. Alexandra Herman ’23, Isabella LaCava ’19, and Anna Levine ’22 are all proud to be representing incredible organizations on Marathon Monday, raising money and sharing their stories through a collective love of running.
For recent Beaver graduate Alexandra Herman ’23, the Boston Marathon has been a lifelong dream. “I’ve had the privilege of watching the Boston Marathon year after year, and ever since I fell in love with running, it has been my dream to participate,” she states. Alexandra is running as a member of Team Stepping Strong, raising money for the Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation. The organization’s work in advancing trauma care and offering life-saving programs like suicide prevention and Narcan training is something Alexandra holds close. “Two years ago, I lost a close childhood friend of mine to suicide,” Alexandra shares. “She and I bonded over our shared love for the sport and dreamt of one day running the marathon majors together.”
I am incredibly excited to not only run for such an amazing organization like Stepping Strong, but I am so grateful to be able to do so both for and in honor of my friend. Stella, this is for you!
Alexandra Herman '23
Isabella LaCava ’19 is running for the Cam Neely Foundation, an organization focused on providing support for cancer patients and their families. Having grown up watching her mother and sister run marathons, Isabella has a personal connection to the sport. “Running has become a way for me to connect with my family and honor that family legacy while pushing myself to new goals,” she shares. Her work in cancer research only deepens this dedication, giving Isabella a firsthand look at the devastating effects of cancer. When it comes to running for the Cam Neely Foundation, Isabella’s familial ties to running and work experience serve as the driving force behind her preparations.
I feel incredibly grateful to have a role in helping others and have seen how important it is to support patients and their families’ during such a difficult time. The Cam Neely Foundation is dedicated to helping families affected by cancer and is why I am honored to be running for the foundation.
Isabella LaCava '19
Before transferring to Beaver in 2021, Anna Levine ’22 spent the pandemic discovering her love for running. Her journey led her to Beaver’s 13.1 club, where she expanded upon her newfound passion. Anna is running for Hale Education, a nonprofit organization that provides outdoor education and adventure to children. “Hale gives students and campers the opportunity to truly and unapologetically be themselves,” she says. Anna’s experience working at Hale has only deepened her belief in the power of nature and adventure to transform lives. Although Anna is unable to run Boston this year due to an injury–deferring her race to 2026–she is continuing to raise money for this incredible organization.
When I think back to my favorite moments with the 13.1 team, I remember the long runs we would have after school. . . An eight mile run at 5:30 after school flew by because of the people I was surrounded by.
Anna Levine '22
Anna wasn’t the only one to take advantage of Beaver’s 13.1 Project team. In fact, each alum running the Boston Marathon this year was a member of the team, building the skills necessary to tackle marathons and creating lasting bonds through a love of running. As Isabella states, “[13.1] was a great opportunity to bond with classmates who were facing the same challenge.” Alexandra echoes this sentiment, adding “[My favorite 13.1 memory] was all of the race days each year leading up to Hyannis and, of course, Hyannis race day itself. The people made it so much fun!”
To learn more about the 13.1 Project team at Beaver, visit the Beaver Athletics website!