On April 20, David Kilfoil of Medway will run the Boston Marathon as a member of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team in the 130th Boston Marathon® presented by Bank of America, along with more than 500 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge teammates from across the country and around the world. Collectively, participants will raise more than $8.75 million for cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 

On his fundraising page - bit.ly/BostonMarathon2026-DavidKilfoil - Kilfoil says he’s running because “Two years ago, my brother-in-law was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma. That year, I ran the Falmouth Road Race with the Dana Farber team to raise dollars and awareness for the place that would treat him and kill the cancer. This year, Ryan is in remission - CANCER FREE BABY! So, we’re doing it bigger, and tackling the Boston Marathon. With Dana Farber team again, I’m raising funds for the treatment and research that saved his life – let’s get after it!” 

This year marks the 37th annual running of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC), the largest and longest-running charity team for the Boston Marathon. One hundred percent of the funds raised by the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team benefit Dana-Farber’s Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research, which enables promising scientific research in its earliest stages. The Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge has raised more than $140 million for the program since 1990. 

Runners include cancer survivors and patients, and family and friends of those who have been affected by cancer. Each team member must fulfill a basic fundraising commitment: 

Invitational runners – runners who receive their entry from Dana-Farber have a minimum fundraising commitment of $12,000 

Own entry runners - runners who have joined the DFMC team after obtaining their own race entry have a fundraising commitment of $4,000. 

Dana-Farber was among the first charity organizations to be recognized by the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A), which organizes the Boston Marathon. The Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team offers its members extensive fundraising support, team training runs, exclusive Dana-Farber events, and a post-race recovery zone. Celebrating his 50th anniversary of winning the 1976 Boston Marathon Men’s Open Division, Jack Fultz will serve as the team training advisor for the 37th time. Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge runners who are not time-qualified for the Boston Marathon receive an invitational entry into the race.