For Michelle Merrill, the 2026 Boston Marathon is more than just a grueling 26.2-mile trek – it's an opportunity to honor her father and brother who are no longer with her. Both died from sudden strokes, leaving their family reeling in grief.
Running has always been Merrill's escape, a way to cope with life's ups and downs. She's completed several marathons in the past for personal reasons, but this time, she wants to use her running to make a difference for others affected by stroke and heart disease.
As it happens, the 2026 Boston Marathon falls on her father's birthday. Merrill says she feels like she's being called to run – that this is the right moment to be part of Tedy's Team, an organization dedicated to supporting families and patients impacted by these devastating conditions.
Merrill's journey to running for a cause is deeply personal. She remembers the countless hours her father supported her in Las Vegas as she trained for marathons. Her brother, who also died from a stroke, had just undergone surgery when they ran a half marathon together.
Now, Merrill is using this chance to run Boston to provide support to those affected by heart disease and stroke. By joining Tedy's Team, she hopes to make a difference in the lives of families who are struggling with these conditions.
For Michelle Merrill, running has always been about more than just crossing finish lines – it's about making a difference for others who need it most.
Running has always been Merrill's escape, a way to cope with life's ups and downs. She's completed several marathons in the past for personal reasons, but this time, she wants to use her running to make a difference for others affected by stroke and heart disease.
As it happens, the 2026 Boston Marathon falls on her father's birthday. Merrill says she feels like she's being called to run – that this is the right moment to be part of Tedy's Team, an organization dedicated to supporting families and patients impacted by these devastating conditions.
Merrill's journey to running for a cause is deeply personal. She remembers the countless hours her father supported her in Las Vegas as she trained for marathons. Her brother, who also died from a stroke, had just undergone surgery when they ran a half marathon together.
Now, Merrill is using this chance to run Boston to provide support to those affected by heart disease and stroke. By joining Tedy's Team, she hopes to make a difference in the lives of families who are struggling with these conditions.
For Michelle Merrill, running has always been about more than just crossing finish lines – it's about making a difference for others who need it most.
and i'm so down to run for a cause 
like michelle merrill! she's an inspiration 2 me tho, losing ur dad & bro 2 strokes is just heartbreaking 
but u turn dat grief into something beautiful by running 4 others who need it. i hope she crushes boston marathon 
and makes a huge difference 4 tedy's team 
. its amazing how she can turn something that was always just about personal goals into something bigger...like Tedy's Team is such a great org too, I've heard good things about it 
. anyway, im sure she'll crush the Boston marathon and raise tons of cash for stroke and heart disease research 
I'm so done with how social media platforms use charity events as an excuse to clutter my feed. Like, can't we have a dedicated section for sponsored content instead of seeing the Boston Marathon logo everywhere? 
And what's up with the "donate now" button that takes me away from the actual story? I just want to read about Michelle Merrill's inspiring journey without feeling like I'm being sold something. 
. her fam has been thru hell & back with those strokes, so yeah, she wanna use her running 2 help others who r goin thru the same 
I feel so bad for Michelle, her dad & bro went through stroke and now she's got the chance to help others with Tedy's Team 
. As someone who's into DIY projects, I appreciate how she's taking matters into her own hands by joining Tedy's Team 
- Tedy's Team is helping families affected by heart disease and stroke, but what about the athletes themselves? Like, what if Michelle Merrill DIES on that course? 
It's just a fact we gotta face...
Her dad and bro died of strokes and now she's gonna run 26.2 miles to help others affected by the same thing... it's just too much 
And now she's basically running on autopilot for them 
It's actually kinda inspiring that she wants to make a difference, but at the same time, I'm just feeling all the feels 
, her passion for running goes beyond the finish line, and I think that's what makes this Boston Marathon even more special. It's amazing how something we often associate with personal achievement can also be a force for good 
. Michelle's dedication to Tedy's Team is truly inspiring, and it just goes to show that when we find something we love, we can turn that passion into action 
!
I'm not sure if this is the right way to go about using her personal loss as a fundraising opportunity... seems kinda exploitative to me 
. Can we get some info on how Tedy's Team supports the families and patients affected by stroke and heart disease? What exactly are they doing with the donations from events like Michelle's run? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for charity runs, but we need to make sure the cause is being properly represented 
. It's amazing how running can be both a personal escape and a way to give back to the community. I think it's beautiful that she's using this opportunity to honor her dad and brother, while also raising awareness for such an important cause. Her dedication to Tedy's Team is really inspiring 
of Michelle's journey... so far, she's got her heart (or should I say, stroke?) in the right place 
. Maybe I'll draw a little picture of Michelle at the finish line, holding up a sign for heart health awareness 
... yeah, that sounds like something she'd do!
I'm so inspired by Michelle's story 
. Running can be super tough, but when you're doing it for a reason that's meaningful to your heart, it becomes even more special 
. But seeing Michelle use her running to help others who are going through similar struggles is truly beautiful