Trevor Golden is running the Boston Marathon to honor his friend Sean Peters.
At the age of 10, Trevor Golden formed an unbreakable friendship with fellow diabetic Sean Peters while the pair was away at Camp Joslin, a summer camp run through the Joslin Diabetes Center in Massachusetts. Golden said he looked up to Peters, who was the epitome of good health practices and a positive attitude, and when Peters passed away of complications from his diabetes last year, Golden was taken by complete surprise.
Out of the shocking loss, the Medford resident knew he wanted to do something to commemorate his friend. On Monday, April 16, Golden will run the Boston Marathon as a part of Team Joslin to raise funds for the Joslin Diabetes Center, a world-renowned diabetes treatment and research facility in Boston.
Having been diagnosed with the disease at the age of 7, Golden said he can’t remember life without Type 1 diabetes. He said growing up with the disease made him very much aware of his “other” status, and so when he heard about a summer camp for kids with diabetes, he knew he wanted to go.
At Camp Joslin, Golden and Peters formed an instant connection. Golden said Peters was a year older, and the pair grew up together over their summers at camp. Eventually, the duo would go from being campers to counselors, and today, Golden works in the administration department of the camp.
The pair were both athletes, and Peters always encouraged Golden to push himself harder than they he thought he could go. Golden said Peters was in seemingly perfect health given his condition when he passed away last April following an episode of severe low blood sugar.
Golden, a senior nursing student at Boston College, said he has watched the Boston Marathon from mile 21 every year since he began attending Boston College. He said he knew the Joslin Diabetes Center sponsored a team each year, so he reached out to see if he could be part of this year’s team. He said it only made sense to fundraise and run for an organization that’s been a guiding force for both his and Peters’ life.
He said he’s never run a full marathon before, and as a full-time nursing student, finding the time to train can often be difficult. In preparation for the marathon, Golden has been training on the weekends and slipping a run in throughout the week when he can. He said given his diabetes, he has also been working with his school’s nutritionist to ensure he’s getting the proper nutrition while training.
The fundraising process has been the most challenging part, Golden said. His goal is to raise $10,000, and he said he is about a quarter of the way there. He said he’s reached out to his college network, friends and family to help him meet his goal.
He said when he takes to the streets of Boston on April 16, he knows he isn’t running alone. Golden said he knows his friend will be there with him in spirit, and if he was alive to see him, he’d be his biggest supporter.
“I think he’d be ready to meet me at the end with a big hug,” Golden said. “He was always so supportive and positive and outgoing and optimistic. I like to think he’d be cheering the loudest out of anyone.”
To donate to Golden’s fundraising page through the Joslin Diabetes Center’s High Hopes foundation, visit www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/joslindiabetescenterboston2018.
