LYNN — Brian Castellanos is no stranger to adversity.
A Lynn native, Castellanos took the road less traveled during his youth. He was homeless for a period of his life and survived a devastating car accident in 2013. But those who undergo adversity come away stronger. That’s Castellanos’ biggest takeaway from his struggles. Now he’s ready to give back.
Castellanos will run his third Boston Marathon Monday morning to raise money for Horizons for Homeless Children.
“It’s so important to spread awareness about what Horizons for Homeless Children does,” said Castellanos, 29. “What makes Horizons admirable is they impact homeless children that go through tremendous trauma and tragedies. A lot of these children go through trauma and that impacts their learning abilities.”
Castellanos became involved with the organization when he volunteered as a Play Assistant Leader. His goal is to raise $10,000 and he’s currently at $7,176 as of Wednesday night.
“I’d literally go into these shelters when I was in graduate school and I’d see these children who were homeless,” Castellanos said. “They were struck with horrible situations. Some of them are modern-day orphans. We have shelters all over the state and sometimes shelters are dark, gloomy places. They aren’t places for kids to thrive. Horizons places them in play spaces so they have places to play.”
According to the organization’s website, “The mission of Horizons for Homeless Children is to improve the lives of young homeless children in Massachusetts and help their families succeed by providing high-quality early education, opportunities for play, and comprehensive family support services.”
Castellanos found his drive to become involved shortly after his car accident. He fell asleep behind the wheel and, after doctors told him he’d never walk again, made it a point to pay it forward if he survived.
“I had a second chance at life,” Castellanos said. “I remember asking myself, ‘Did I live a good life?’ I had a lot of regrets. I said, ‘If I wake up tomorrow I’m going to give back.’ It was like I had another life to live. I found Horizons during my time as a graduate student at Salem State. That’s where civic engagement and philanthropy made its way into my life.”
Training for the marathon is easier said than done. Castellanos keeps a busy schedule as an Adolescent Social Worker in the Department of Children and Families and a member of the Lynn School Committee.
“My job’s strenuous,” Castellanos said. “I can’t miss my gym sessions. I have my job during the day and school committee meetings at night, and then I’m running at night. I’m not getting home until 1 a.m. because I have to get it done.”
Mental toughness is key, he said. As a football player at English High and Division III Framingham State University, Castellanos grasped the ins and outs of what it means to test himself when his body tells him “no.”
“My ability to push through pain and difficult training sessions was learned through playing football,” Castellanos said. “At English, I remember coaches had us in the weight room and we were always improving our craft. In the offseason we did track and other sports to stay physically fit. I was All-American in college. What I gained from playing football was the mental toughness. Preparing in the offseason was the most important part. I became a student of my own fitness.”
With the marathon just a few days away, Castellanos is cooling down on his training. He has done the heavy lifting and now he’s placing emphasis and flexibility training while running 5-7 miles a day, 4-5 days a week.
“I have great gyms that support me,” Castellanos said. “Reck Fitness in Beverly opened their arms to me as a sponsor. I’d do high interval training, I did yoga, boot camps. Some of the training happens in early hours. In the winter, it’s freezing but I’m still out there in the blistering cold getting it done. You have to diet right. Eating healthy is very important. I have to take care of my body.”
Castellanos ran the 26.2-mile course in 5:32:00 last year. His goal is to run this year’s marathon in under five hours.
“There are three things that influence your success,” he said. “Your attitude, how hard you’re willing to work and your internal decision to never give up. I never give up. I don’t quit and that’s what I bring to the table everywhere I go.”
More importantly, Castellanos hopes to make the most of his platform as he fights for a cause near and dear to him.
“The marathon allows me to raise awareness,” Castellanos said. “I have all the support from city officials, school committee members, city councilors, Mayor (Thomas) McGee. I have the whole city of Lynn behind me. I run for all of them. I’m the voice of 16,000 children who are struck with poverty and crisis. I’ll be their voice. On Marathon Monday I’m going to run for those kids and I’m going to bring it home.”
Those who wish to contribute to Castellanos’ efforts can do so by visiting https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/horizons-for-homeless-children-boston-2019/briancastellanos.
