Bryan Kerman crossed the finish line on Boylston Street on April 20, 2026. The Salem, NH, resident completed the 130th Boston Marathon and earned one of distance running’s most coveted honors: the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Finisher Medal. Fewer than 25,000 runners worldwide have achieved it. He ran in support of the Hopkinton Women’s Club.

It Started With a Walk

Bryan Kerman was not a runner. Neither was his wife. In 2014, she came home from the doctor with news: we needed to walk more. Kerman’s first reaction was, “We?”

They started slowly — walks that turned into run-walk intervals. That October, they entered a 3K Trick-or-Trot race. They were hooked.

In 2017, Kerman needed a Valentine’s Day gift for his wife. He signed them up for the Marine Corps Marathon. They figured it would be a one-time thing. It was not.

A Journey Nine Years in the Making

Kerman and his wife started their marathon journey at age 56. They had no grand plan. They simply loved running together. One race led to another. New York. Chicago. London — where their two adult sons and close friends joined them for the race and a two-week trip through England and Scotland. Then Tokyo won through a lottery that accepts fewer than 1% of applicants.

Along the way, they also ran the original marathon route in Greece, from the Town of Marathon to the Olympic Stadium in Athens. Kerman has now completed 12 marathons. His wife has run 9. After Tokyo, Kerman had four of the six World Major stars. Only then did they decide to go for it all. Berlin gave Kerman his fifth star. That left Boston.

Finding the Right Cause

Boston does not offer a lottery. Kerman needed a charity bib. Many Boston charities now require $12,000 or more, and some have seen unofficial bidding wars. Kerman wanted a cause that put every dollar directly into the hands of people in need.

The answer came through his sister, who mentioned their search to a friend connected to the Hopkinton Women’s Club. Kerman investigated the organization and was immediately impressed. The Club funds local charities, scholarships, and camperships for children, with almost nothing going to overhead. He asked to run on their behalf. His wife secured a bib through the Hopkinton Lions Club, so they could run Boston together.

More Than Miles

The Kermans ran Boston at ages 65 and 64. In their first year of running, they each lost significant weight — and kept it off. They have traveled the country and the world, improved their health, and shared every step together.

“Our running journey was completely unexpected but wonderful,” Kerman said. “We have improved our health, met some of the most wonderful people you could imagine, and have shared this activity together. I have often told people you never know where the road will take you. For us, it was running around the world.”

The night before every marathon, the Kermans stay at a hotel or a friend’s home. They place a small sign on the door. Before they leave for the race, they read it.

It says: “We know that someday we will not be able to do this. Today is not that day.”

Kerman’s Six Star Medal represents years of dedication, miles run across four continents, and a commitment to giving back. “We are so thankful that the Hopkinton Women’s Club provided me with this opportunity,” he said. “It has all been worth it.”