Jill Borthwick
My Why
My name is Jill Borthwick, and I was born in a family of five girls. Birthday is June 1st 1953 …older I know. We were taught we could do anything. For me, that was to run Boston, even though at the time, 1970, women were not allowed to run. I have run 11 since then. Fast forward to the year 2020, my son John O’Brien passed away from an accidental drug overdose. John was so moved by the documentary Unguarded: The Chris Herren Story that he asked me to watch it. That was two weeks before he died. I have since watch unguarded and everything else about the great works of Chris Herren. It took 5 years for me to be emotionally ready to run another Boston, and what better charity than Herren Project. My son always ran the last 365 yards to the finish with me, and this time he will be in my heart along with others we have lost to this horrible disease.
