Amanda Ross and her husband, Patrick, moved to Hopkinton in 2013 to start their family. Ten years later, and with four children under 9, Ross will run the Boston Marathon this Monday in support of Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

There’s only one problem: Amanda Ross is not a runner. Or at least she never thought of herself that way. “Eighteen months ago I was 100 pounds heavier,” said Ross. “I was the furthest thing from a runner that you can imagine.”

Like many busy moms, her own health fell behind the needs of those in her family. Adding to the pressure is Ross’ day job as a Managing Director at Bank of America, overseeing a team of hundreds.

“In late 2021 I started working out at Resilience and that place changed my life,” said Ross.

Like many New Englanders, the Boston Marathon has been a fixture in Ross’ life. She watched it on television is a girl, and in college while living in Newton she and her friends would head to Chestnut street to cheer the runners on. 

“The Marathon symbolizes endurance and strength,” said Ross. “Running it is something that I always wanted to do.”

Amanda lost her father last year, and this inspired her even more. “My dad was always in to physical fitness and I felt like this would be a great way to honor him.”

The Ross family have been dedicated fundraisers for the HCA. All four of their children have benefited from the programs, from music classes as babies to art classes as they’ve grow up. “I remember when it was a small, old building,” said Ross “and now we’ve moved it to a place where it’s a staple of the community. Having the HCA is such a benefit to Hopkinton and I feel lucky to run for it.” 

As many know, training for a marathon is rigorous, multi-month process that more than anything takes time, which is time away from your family and other responsibilities. “I’m so grateful for Patrick,” she said. “We are such a great team and I wouldn’t have been able to do this without his love and support.”