A public health graduate of Boston University (BU), Marjan knows the terrain of the marathon route and understands the unpredictability of New England weather.
But what really helps her focus on training for the famously tough race is that she is running this year’s marathon with a mission — to raise awareness for autism and support for Mass General’s Lurie Center for Autism. Marjan saw the life-altering impact that a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has on a family…
Marjan, 40, is running on behalf of Hamza Dahlan, the seven-year-old son of her friend, Malik Dahlan, a Harvard University graduate she met while attending BU two decades ago.
Marjan saw the life-altering impact that a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has on a family, and the challenges that parents, like Malik and his wife, Sarah, face in securing appropriate resources.
She also felt it was important for every “inclusive society” to understand the special qualities of individuals like Hamza and to support them and their families as they work to ensure that they have access to opportunities and support in their communities.
Marjan decided to run for Mass General’s Lurie Center knowing how important it is to Malik, Sarah and Hamza and the nearly 3,000 other families who rely on their expert care.