MassBay Runners Get Ready to Run the Boston Marathon, While Raising Funds for Student Scholarships

MassBay Community College Boston Marathon runners, Ava Stigler (left) and Deb O’Dowd (right) will run the 130th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, 2026 (Photo/ Ava Stigler and Deb O’Dowd).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
ecooper@massbay.edu

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (February 9, 2026) — MassBay Community College supporter Ava Stigler of Allston, MA, and MassBay Nursing faculty member Deb O’Dowd of Maynard, MA, will run the 130th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, 2026, to raise funds for the MassBay Student Essential Needs Fund. Established in 2025, the fund provides critical support to help students manage unexpected financial emergencies. These funds often make the difference between a student staying on track to graduate or having to leave school.

“We are extremely grateful to the Town of Wellesley Select Board for their decision to offer MassBay a marathon bib again this year,” said Jeremy Solomon, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Marketing & Communications. “Over the years this fundraising opportunity has provided crucial funds for deserving, hardworking students. We recognize there are many deserving organizations for the bibs, and truly appreciate the support of the Town and its Select Board members.”

The Select Board awarded MassBay a Boston Marathon bib through the Boston Athletic Association City and Town Program, which provides spots to local charities. Ava Stigler will run using the bib provided by the Town. And, for the first time in many years, MassBay will benefit from two runners. Professor Deb O’Dowd independently secured a marathon bib and generously decided to run to also help students facing unexpected financial emergencies.

Originally from Iowa, Ava Stigler moved to Massachusetts to study at Northeastern University. After earning her bachelor’s degree in international business and international affairs, she began working for TJX Corporation. Stigler learned about MassBay at a TJX nonprofit fair and was impressed by how the college “strives to provide an equal playing field for all, preparing students for a successful future regardless of economic barriers.”

A longtime runner, Stigler began running cross-country and track in high school as a way to meet friends at a new school, and it became her favorite way to exercise. She has completed several 5K races, the Boston 10K, the Boston Half Marathon, the Cambridge Half Marathon, and the Chicago Marathon in October 2025. This will be her first Boston Marathon.

“I feel grateful to have the opportunity to run the Boston Marathon after being inspired by this race for so many years,” Stigler said. “I’m constantly inspired to run for my dad, Geoff, who ran a marathon two weeks after I was born and has always been endlessly supportive of my educational pursuits. I will never forget the feeling of crossing the Chicago Marathon finish line. Never in my life did I think I would run a marathon, let alone sign up for a second one right after. Marathon running has taught me that you can do anything you set your mind to, and I’m committed to supporting a mission that gives students the tools and confidence they need to succeed.”

Deb O’Dowd has been part of MassBay’s nursing faculty, educating the next generation of nurses since 2020. A longtime runner, she has completed several marathons, but this will be her first Boston Marathon—and her last marathon ever. When O’Dowd received word that she had secured a bib, she decided to dedicate her run to raising vital student scholarship funds.

“As someone who earned her first nursing degree from a Massachusetts community college, I understand the challenges our students face,” O’Dowd said. “I worked full time while completing a rigorous nursing program as a single mother. Balancing coursework with daily necessities was a constant struggle. Many of our students at MassBay face similar obstacles, and I’m hoping by raising these funds we can help eliminate some barriers. As a nursing faculty member at MassBay, I strive to help students reach their goals. This marathon is my way of taking that mission a step further.”

To support Stigler’s run, visit:
https://www.givengain.com/project/ava-raising-funds-for-massachusetts-bay-community-college-foundation-115134

To support O’Dowd’s run, visit:
https://www.givengain.com/project/deborah-raising-funds-for-massachusetts-bay-community-college-foundation-115341

MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston and is free to most Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree. With more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs, along with comprehensive workforce and educational training, MassBay provides a wide range of courses with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Wellesley, Framingham, the Automotive Technology Center in Ashland, and online, in high-demand fields including health and life sciences, computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, business, and the humanities. MassBay students receive unparalleled value, with free one-on-one academic and social support services, compassionate and experienced faculty, and stackable credits that easily transfer to bachelor’s degree programs and that provide hands-on, workforce-ready skills. Health sciences, human services, early childhood education, and many general education programs are offered at the 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art MassBay Framingham, which has served the community since January 2024. Founded in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by multiple governing bodies and remains dedicated to serving its diverse communities, fostering inclusiveness, and advancing equity for all.