1 stem cell transplant, 10 marathons: Boyd Dunleavey just won’t quit
Boyd Dunleavey of Moncton, New Brunswick, just might be Canada’s most stubborn and inspiring cancer survivor-athlete.
Boyd is also one hell of a storyteller.
He is a two-time blood cancer survivor who underwent a life-saving stem cell transplant in May 2012. Since that time, Boyd has finished 10 marathons — mostly because people told him he would never be able to do it. This month he makes a return to his favorite course at the legendary Boston Marathon.
Boyd runs to prove the doubters wrong, and to give hope to other cancer patients and survivors, with the message that anything is possible.
In 2019, Boyd finally got the chance to meet the U.S. Navy Serviceman, Nathan Barnes, who risked his own life to give boyd a stem cell donation.
Video of Boyd meeting his donor, Nathan, at the Disney half marathon in 2019:
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