LYNNFIELD — Former Lynnfield High softball standout Hayley O’Brien is running her first marathon this year, and it’s a big one – the 128th Boston Marathon held on April 15.

O’Brien is mixing her passion for fitness and health with her love of nursing, and will be  running for the Boston Medical Center team. She’s worked at BMC for the last five years, the last year or so as a registered nurse working as a medical surgical floating nurse.

“I go wherever I’m needed to fill the gaps. As an RN there, I have seen firsthand the incredible services and resources BMC offers their patients and communities surrounding Boston,” O’Brien said. “BMC patients typically have no healthcare and we see many addicts who need a voice. BMC does a beautiful job advocating for people who don’t have a voice.”

O’Brien knows a thing or two about advocacy when it comes to health issues. When she was 15, she was diagnosed with epilepsy. But rather than feeling sorry for herself, she sprang into action. In April 2018,  O’Brien was in the national spotlight in Washington, D.C. at the annual Teens Speak Up!/Public Policy Institute Conference, sponsored by the National Epilepsy Foundation.

“Teens Speak Up! is about getting the message out on why we need to be funding research,” O’Brien said. “During the meetings, I was able to tell our personal stories and put a personal face on epilepsy. When I learned I had epilepsy, it was so scary. The life I thought I had wasn’t the life I ended up having as, suddenly, anything can happen in a split second. What I’ve learned is that if you don’t advocate for something, nothing will get done.”

O’Brien said her inspiration to run the Boston Marathon came when she started working at BMC.

“There is a hallway within BMC that holds photographs and quotes of previous runners at the Boston Marathon. Ever since I first walked through that hallway, I have been motivated to run the Boston Marathon with Team BMC,” she said. “The Boston Marathon has been a dream of mine to accomplish and I am so excited to be able to take it on in 2024,” 

O’Brien’s has already reached her fundraising goal of $7,500 and has now upped the ante to $8,000, which she hopes to reach by her May 15 deadline.

“I have been blown away by everyone’s continued support of my fundraising efforts for Boston Medical Center.  This incredible organization provides top-quality medical care to those in need, regardless of their ability to pay,” said O’Brien, the granddaughter of Boston Bruins legend Ken Hodge. “This money will help save lives and transform healthcare in our community.”

A 2018 Lynnfield High and 2022 Fitchburg State graduate, O’Brien said that when she began toying with the idea of running the marathon, she was “panicked about the fundraising and the toll it would be to raise this amount of money. I panicked more about the fundraising than the actual running 26.2 miles part of it all.”

Saturday, the Lynnfield resident hit another milestone; she completed her longest training run of 20 miles. Her goal is to finish in five to five-and-a-half hours.

“It was challenging mentally, physically, and emotionally. I couldn’t imagine running 10 miles this time last year and to now be at double that makes me so proud of myself,” O’Brien said. “I did it in about four hours and I can run a 10k in an hour, so I should be able to get under the cut time (6 hours). I’m really running for fun, not for time, and just hope not to get cut off. I’m just so excited to be a part of this journey and even more excited to cross the finish line in just four weeks.”

O’Brien said every donation is appreciated – no matter how big or small. 

“Together, we can make a difference and ensure that everyone has access to the care they deserve,” she said.

To make a donation, go to O’Brien’s Given Gain fundraising page at https://www.givengain.com/champion/hayley-obrien-888183

Are there any more marathon’s in O’Brien’s future? She said it all depends on how the first one goes.

“I need to get through this one first, but I would love to do the Abbott (World Majors series of 6 marathons). It sounds so exciting and would be the chance of a lifetime,” she said. “Right now, I’m focused on Boston. I’ve never even been a spectator, so I know it will be a treat. Even getting my bib number Tuesday was exciting.”