EPISODE · Apr 16, 2026 · 6 MIN
Service at Heart: Francesca Ciampa's Boston Marathon Story
from Discover Boston College · host Dylan Carollo, Francesca Ciampa
For Francesca Ciampa ’27, the Boston Marathon is both personal and deeply rooted in community. A lifelong Boston resident whose parents also ran the race, Francesca is now preparing to take on the Marathon herself in support of Horizons for Homeless Children. In this episode of Discover Boston College, she shares how her multi-generational connection to the race — along with her year of volunteering in Horizons classrooms — inspired her to run for the children she’s worked with. She also reflects on BC’s commitment to service, her mother’s incredible endurance accomplishments, and what it means to be part of Boston’s citywide marathon tradition while making a real impact. 0:00 | Welcome to Discover Boston College with Dylan Carollo '25. 0:18 | Meet Francesca Ciampa '27 — running the Boston Marathon for Horizons for Homeless Children. 0:19 | What inspired Francesca to run the Marathon? 0:39 | Experiencing BC's Marathon Monday as a student. 1:00 | Inspired by runners from all over the world with different abilities. 1:10 | Volunteering at Horizons for Homeless Children for over a year. 1:28 | "There is no other place I wanted to run for" — choosing Horizons charity bib. 1:44 | How has the BC community impacted her Marathon journey? 2:10 | BC's values of "service for others" shaped her decision to run for charity. 2:32 | "This was the right time" — running as a BC student, not just a spectator. 2:44 | What part of the marathon is she most excited for? 2:59 | Mile 21 — the hardest part (Heartbreak Hill) but seeing all her friends. 3:22 | The finish line — a lifelong dream after watching finishers growing up. 3:47 | Who would she like to shout out? 3:56 | The children at Horizons for Homeless Children — "they've shown me what resilience and strength looks like." 4:27 | Her mother: 10 marathons, 11 half Ironmans, 1 full Ironman. 4:45 | "Put your mind to anything, you'll be able to do it." 4:50 | What will crossing the finish line on Boylston Street mean to Francesca? 4:56 | Bringing hope — making a difference in children's lives. 5:43 | "I can do hard things and help others." 6:07 | The Boston Marathon's ollective charity impact — "so many people trying to make a difference." 6:22 | Thank you for tuning into this episode of Discover Boston College! Stay tuned for the latest updates on Discover Boston College, a Boston College Student Affairs and D100 Media podcast.Have an idea for this podcast? Text D100 Radio on Messages or email [email protected].
What this episode covers
For Francesca Ciampa ’27, the Boston Marathon is both personal and deeply rooted in community. A lifelong Boston resident whose parents also ran the race, Francesca is now preparing to take on the Marathon herself in support of Horizons for Homeless Children. In this episode of Discover Boston College, she shares how her multi-generational connection to the race — along with her year of volunteering in Horizons classrooms — inspired her to run for the children she’s worked with. She also reflects on BC’s commitment to service, her mother’s incredible endurance accomplishments, and what it means to be part of Boston’s citywide marathon tradition while making a real impact.
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Service at Heart: Francesca Ciampa's Boston Marathon Story
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