My team
My Story…
The Live4Evan foundation means the absolute world to our family. After our son was diagnosed prenatally with a congenital heart defect at our 20 week anatomy scan, we immediately went into planning mode when we learned we would need to relocate to Boston for several weeks/ months for his care after birth. Our son, Cole, was born in July 2025, and this run is for him.
Combining both of our trips to Boston, both our planned and unplanned emergency trip, our son spent 100 days inpatient in the cardiac unit at Boston Children's Hospital and this foundation was able to provide us with housing for the majority of our time there. We stayed in Live4Evan housing for the entirety of our first stay, spanning from mid-July to the beginning of October, then again, after our unplanned trip back a few weeks later, they worked quickly to get us back into housing as soon as they could- giving us one less thing to stress about during an unfathomably stressful time.
With Live4Evan housing, we were able to remain close to our baby, while also providing some sense of stability, structure, and familiarity for our 3 year old during a very unstable and unstructured time. Ensuring that our children's needs were being met was our biggest priority and it was this foundation that supported us in achieving this.
Our heart warrior had 6 surgeries before he was 3 months old: 2 open heart surgeries, 2 bronchoscopies, 1 cath lab, and 1 general surgery; being close to him was imperative for us and we could not have done so without Live4Evan.
It is my honor and privilege to run the 2026 Falmouth Road Race with Live4Evan as a "thank you" for all they have done for my family, and assist them in supporting future heart warriors and their families during such difficult times.
Description
ABOUT US: The Live4Evan Organization was formed out of a desire to recognize and support the critical relationship between a child and their loved ones. We believe that there is no greater gift to be given than a parent’s love to a child. We understand the importance of staying by a child’s side without having to worry about the additional burdens that life can place on us. And so, our organization works tirelessly to provide financial and emotional support to families by providing them with temporary housing while their child receives congenital cardiac treatment.
The Falmouth Road Race has been a crucial fundraiser for Live4Evan for the past 8 years. Over this time, the Live4Evan team members have collectively raised over $720,000. Thanks in large part to these efforts, Live4Evan is currently providing SEVEN patient-family apartments for families traveling to Boston for pediatric cardiac care. These apartments are next to Boston Children's Hospital and offer calm and comfort in the midst of such a difficult time. The close proximity to the hospital ensures that caretakers can be at their loved ones bedside in a moment's notice. The need for patient-family housing is critical and Live4Evan is committed to increasing our apartment portfolio in order to help additional families.
OUR STORY: Live4Evan was founded in memory of Evan Girardi, who passed away his senior year of college from a heart arrhythmia. Evan was born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) known as Corrected L-Transposition of the Great Arteries. Despite his heart condition, Evan lived his life to the fullest. Rather than allow Evan’s passing to put an end to the life and legacy that Evan had built, his friends and family formed Live4Evan to serve as a testament to the power of relationships and the importance of having loved ones by your side.
Watch our video to learn more about the Live4Evan Organization by clicking HERE or by visiting our website.
DONATE: If you would like to make a donation, support one of our runners below or send a check to LIVE4EVAN at P.O. Box 845 Hopkinton, MA 01748
