Former Jamaica Plain resident to run 126th Boston Marathon in honor of diabetes research

This year, 25-year-old Dana Grey will be participating in his very first Boston Marathon, a dream of his since childhood. He will be running as a member of Team Joslin to support Joslin Diabetes Center, a world-renowned diabetes research and care facility in Boston, MA.

The cause is very special to Dana, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in May 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He began to experience issues with vision that were quickly misdiagnosed at another medical facility as nearsightedness. The diagnosis of T1D overwhelmed and surprised Dana, as his family had no prior history of diabetes. Thankfully, working from home gave him the opportunity to spend more time learning about the care he would now need and adapt to a new lifestyle.

Dana was never a traditional runner, but turned to running after his diagnosis because he liked the routine of it. In the beginning, Dana recalls struggling to run half a mile and manage his blood sugar. But, he never gave up, and in November 2021, Dana completed the New York City Marathon. It was a huge stride in boosting his day-to-day confidence.“This may sound cliché, but it really was the best day of my life,” he said. 

Dana wanted to be a part of Team Joslin because of the incredible care they give to each of their patients and because they’re located in Boston. “I take pride in Joslin being located in my home city,” said Dana, who grew up in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood. Those two factors combined are what Dana called “a perfect marriage” and he couldn’t think of a better organization to support while running his first Boston Marathon. 

“I feel very grateful and lucky to be a part of Joslin’s team.” Dana said. His diagnosis felt incredibly draining, knowing this disease was now a part of his everyday life. Running became a safe space for Dana. “In some ways, running saved my life,” Dana said. Now, he is really passionate about proving that you can do anything you want with T1D. “I couldn’t imagine running a marathon before my diagnosis,” he said. “It gave me the motivation to do more.”

By running the marathon this year, Dana’s goal is to raise awareness for T1D by sharing his story with others as well as the warning signs. “I went 23 years of my life without knowing much about diabetes, so I want others to be more prepared,” he said. 

For more information or to support Dana and Team Joslin, visit the link below: https://www.givengain.com/ap/dana-grey-raising-funds-for-joslin-diabetes-center/ 

About Joslin Diabetes Center

Joslin Diabetes Center is world-renowned for its deep expertise in diabetes treatment and research. A federally designated Diabetes Research Center, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, Joslin is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives.  We develop and disseminate innovative patient therapies and scientific discoveries throughout the world. For more information, visit www.joslin.org.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *