KJ McCarter will be running next month in honor of his late father Fred.
The 2016 Columbus East graduate will run in the Boston Marathon for the first time April 21 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He will be a runner on the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team roster.
McCarter was a football player and a member of the 2013 Class 4A state championship team and was the starting quarterback the following year when the Olympians reached the semistate. He never thought he would become a long distance runner until he saw his wife, the former Alex Friend, a North graduate and former tennis player, train for the Chicago Marathon in 2022. It piqued his interest.
“I saw her training for that, and it seemed really neat,” said McCarter. “I really learned more about marathoning and more about Boston and then decided that I wanted to give that a try in 2025.”
Since McCarter didn’t have a qualifying time into the Boston Marathon, he got in touch with Dana-Farber to run for its charity. That gave him an invitational entry into the race.
“I saw Dana-Farber’s team and cancer research they do. That specially means a lot to me, running for them and raising funds for them,” McCarter said. “It’s a cause that’s very important to me and very, very appreciative to be added to the team. I’ve enjoyed my time with the team so far. I’m pretty excited next month for the marathon, too.”
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the world’s leading centers of cancer research and treatment. Dana-Farber’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement and advocacy. Since its inception in 1990, the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge has raised more than $132 million for the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research.
Dana-Farber runners include cancer survivors and patients, along with family and friends of those who have been affected by cancer.
McCarter’s father was diagnosed with glioblastoma in March of 2021. Fred eventually lost his 19-month battle with the disease in 2022.
KJ McCarter runs in the New York City Marathon Nov. 5, 2023.
Submitted photo
McCarter ran in his first marathon, the New York City Marathon in November of 2023. The Boston Marathon next month will be his second, and he plans to run in the Chicago Marathon later this year with Alex. The couple currently live in Chicago but plan to move closer to home in Fishers later this year.
So far, McCarter has raised nearly $22,000, with a goal of $26,200. Anyone wishing to donate to McCarter’s cause can do so at danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/kjmccarter
McCarter came a long way since he began running two years ago. Now, he will be in the biggest and most popular marathon in the country.
“I think there will be a lot of emotions and excitement initially with all of the supporters that will be there in Boston. But as the race goes on, I’ll be thinking a lot about my dad,” he said. “At least that’s what I found when I was running New York in 2023. Thinking a lot about him and everyone who has supported me too in my fundraising efforts that keeps me motivated to keep going when it gets tough for the marathon. At least with New York a couple years ago, towards the end of the marathon, I wasn’t thinking about a lot except trying to finish in those last few miles, but it should be a lot of fun.”
