Brendan Cryan’s 24th Boston Marathon in Support of Cops For Kids With Cancer

BRAINTREE — For 23 years, Brendan Cryan has lined up at the Boston Marathon’s starting line with a purpose: raising money for children battling cancer.

This year, as he prepares for his 24th consecutive race, that mission has taken on a deeply personal meaning.

Cryan, originally from Massachusetts, grew up dreaming of running the Boston Marathon. That dream became a reality in 2003, and he has competed in the race every year since.

In June 2025, Cryan, a law enforcement officer, husband, and father of four, was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare form of soft tissue cancer. 

Although the diagnosis came with its challenges, quitting has never been a thought.

Instead, Cryan is training for the 26.2-mile race on April 20 with the same determination that has carried him through 77 marathon runs. His regimen now includes intense cycling sessions followed by progressively longer runs, all aimed at the goal of reaching the finish line at Boylston Street.

“I’m not letting cancer win this battle,” Cryan said.

Another lifelong goal came to fruition in 2006 when Cryan was hired by the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Special Agent. He now serves as a Supervisory Special Agent in Cincinnati, Ohio, following assignments in Boston, Louisville, and Lisbon, Portugal.

Cryan was first introduced to Cops For Kids With Cancer in 2011, when he met the charity’s Chairman, Bill Coulter of the Mass State Police, at the Boston Marathon Expo. Inspired by the charity’s mission, he began running on its behalf in 2012. This year marks the seventh time he has run the Boston Marathon in support of the organization.

For years, Cryan has run marathons raising money for children battling cancer, hoping to ease the financial burden families are faced with when hearing the diagnosis. This year, even amid his own fight, he has already surpassed his $12,000 fundraising goal.

He hopes his story will raise awareness of sarcoma while inspiring others to support the cause. Cryan will run alongside 109 other members of the Cops for Kids with Cancer Marathon team, with the majority of the team being Mass State Police.

“This will be my 24th consecutive year running the Boston Marathon, while it may be my slowest, it’ll definitely be the most important,” he says. “This amazing charity raises money for families dealing with childhood cancer, and I hope that sharing my story helps the cause.”

Cryan’s resilience extends beyond marathon training. This summer, he plans to bike 164 miles in a Pelotonia, representing one mile for each staple placed in his leg during surgery to remove the sarcoma.

Cops For Kids With Cancer is grateful for all the runners who choose to support the families faced with the unimaginable difficulty of a cancer diagnosis. These runners aren’t just racing to a finish line; they’re racing to beat childhood cancer.

“Our runners in the Boston Marathon are more than participants in a race; they are ambassadors of hope, resilience, and compassion for Cops For Kids With Cancer,” says Board Member Mary Coulter-Bennett. “Each mile they run represents a commitment to supporting families facing the unimaginable challenges of childhood cancer. Every dollar raised by our marathon team goes directly to families in our communities who are caring for a child battling cancer, easing the financial burden during an incredibly difficult time.”

For Cryan, the finish line has never been just about personal achievement. This year, more than ever, it’s about something bigger: turning adversity into action and ensuring that families facing the unimaginable don’t have to face it alone.

Donate and support Brendan’s 24th Boston Marathon and Cops For Kids With Cancer here.

About Cops for Kids with Cancer:

Cops for Kids with Cancer is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides funds directly to those involved in the care of children with cancer, with each family typically receiving $5,500. There are many organizations raising money for important research, but the goal of Cops for Kids with Cancer is to help the children and their caregivers through this most difficult crisis. Since 2002, Cops for Kids with Cancer has given more than $6.4 million to over 1,200 families with children battling cancer. To learn more, visit: https://copsforkidswithcancer.org/.