JACKIE BERCHTEIN
RUNNING TO BENEFIT NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER COALITION SHE USED TO CHEER ON THE SIDELINES OF THE BOSTON MARATHON WITH HER GRANDMOTHER. THIS TIME, SHE’S RUNNING IT IN HONOR OF HER EXPERIENCE WITH OVARIAN CANCER.
A er running her first halfmarathon in October 2022, Jackie Berchtein thought she might hang up her race day sneakers. But she caught the bug again and was lacing up for her second half-marathon in
2023 when she learned that the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) was going to be a first-time charity partner for the 128th Boston Marathon this April.
That sealed the deal for Berchtein, 26. She decided to join “Team Teal’’ and run her first full marathon in honor of her grandma, Lana Berchtein, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014 and inspired Jackie with her perseverance throughout a grueling course of treatment.
As a kid growing up in Needham, Mass., Berchtein had ventured to the race course each year with her grandma to cheer on the participants. This year, her grandma, who is in remission, will be in the crowd, celebrating Berchtein as she crosses the finish line. “I said to her, ‘If I’m running 26 miles, you best be there!’”
Training for a marathon can be arduous, but it’s nothing compared to cancer treatment, Berchtein says. “When I’m training, I envision those I know who have battled cancer. And if they can do treatment, I can run 26.2 miles.”
Her grandma’s bout with ovarian cancer helped illuminate the urgent need for more widespread awareness. Labeled as “the silent killer” by the NOCC, ovarian cancer stands as a prominent cause of cancerrelated fatalities among individuals born with ovaries, according to the American Cancer Society.
“I realized there’s a lack of sufficient knowledge [about ovarian cancer],” Berchtein says. “While I’m excited to run the Boston Marathon because of all it symbolizes, it’s even more meaningful as a platform where I can spotlight ovarian cancer and advocate for others.”
Berchtein looks forward to meeting the other members of Team Teal, which includes Boston natives, ovarian cancer survivors, and even some who are currently navigating cancer. “Running alongside individuals with a connection to ovarian cancer creates a powerful sense of community and a shared sense of purpose hearing their stories of courage and resilience,” she says.
Berchtein has gotten creative with her fundraising, sharing the story of her grandma’s impact on her life well beyond her inner circles without having to go too far geographically. She developed a “cocktail of the month” with her neighborhood restaurant, Publico Street Bistro and Garden in Southie, which has agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds to her efforts. “To coordinate with Dry January, we went with a mocktail theme and created a drink we called the ‘Rated E for Everyone.’”
While completing her first marathon is an exciting milestone for Berchtein, it’s eclipsed by the fact that the timing coincides with her grandma’s celebration of thriving 10 years since her diagnosis.
“I’m excited to have the chance to be part of the Boston Marathon in a way that symbolizes the bond I have with my grandma and honor her strength in conquering ovarian cancer,” she says. “It’s definitely significant to my journey to know she says.
When I’m training, I envision those I know who have battled cancer. And if they can do treatment, I can run 26.2 miles.”