LYNN — Brendon Duffy’s life shifted in the summer of 2024 when he was diagnosed with stage one seminoma, a type of testicular cancer. Now, after surgery, he’s bouncing back and preparing to run for Tufts Medical Center in the Boston Marathon.
Duffy, a project manager for capital construction projects at Lynn City Hall, didn’t get into running until the early 2000s.
“I always played baseball when I was younger in high school and college,” Duffy said. “I wasn’t really good at running, but then I wanted to see how far I could push myself.”
This will be Duffy’s third marathon after running the Baystate marathon in Lowell and the REVEL White Mountains marathon in Conway, New Hampshire.
In September 2024, Duffy underwent major surgery for his cancer treatment and is now doing well and being monitored. His cancer diagnosis and a bit of fate are what led him to take on the Boston Marathon.
“I was cleared to start exercising again, and I was looking at planning my next year with racing because that’s just how I operate,” Duffy said. “I got an email from Tufts, where I got all my treatment done, and it was an opportunity to run for them.”
Duffy said that Boston qualifying had always been the goal and the dream since he started running.
“This summer was kind of the realization that I don’t have the time,” Duffy added. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get to that point, and I don’t want to keep pushing it off. I thought this was the perfect opportunity.”
He said that he feels very fortunate that the cancer was found early and that he was able to shift his mindset.
“I’m grateful I have this opportunity to run [the Boston Marathon] and I enjoy my training more,” Duffy went on to say. “I always put pressure on myself, but it feels like it’s easier now. It changed my whole entire outlook on life.”
On Feb. 12 Duffy will be holding a fundraiser at Tony’s Pub on Franklin Street to raise more money for Tufts Medical Center. He also has a website for donations, where he has currently raised $5,973.
