On April 20, 2026, Erin L. Peters ran the 130th Boston Marathon® presented by Bank of America as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC), combining her passion for running, her dedication to fundraising, and her commitment to supporting cancer research. Through its partnership with the Boston Athletic Association, the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge allows runners to participate in the historic marathon. The challenge helps raise funds for the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Since 1990, DFMC participants have helped raise more than $140 million to support groundbreaking cancer research and improve patient outcomes worldwide.

For Erin, running started as a way to prioritize her health and stay active. She took up the sport in 2022, but it soon became something much more personal. In 2023, after losing a friend to pancreatic cancer, she ran her first marathon in support of Project Purple, a nonprofit dedicated to pancreatic cancer awareness and research. Over the next three years, Erin completed five marathons while fundraising for Project Purple. Those experiences inspired her to broaden her efforts and support cancer research on a larger scale. That goal ultimately led her to Dana-Farber and even inspired the theme of a community 5K she organized as part of her fundraising efforts: “Fight Cancer of All Colors.”

Preparing for the Boston Marathon took months of discipline and consistency. Building on the experience she gained from previous marathons, Erin focused much of her training on long weekend runs, often logging between 16 and 20 miles at a time. Training through New Jersey’s cold, icy winter conditions made the process even more demanding, but she stayed committed. Race day brought a mix of excitement and nostalgia. Boston holds a special place for Erin, who attended law school there and met her husband in the city. Like all Boston Marathon runners, she traveled from Boston Common to Hopkinton on the race’s iconic yellow school buses before beginning the 26.2-mile course back into the city. “The weather was perfect,” Erin said, especially after facing extreme heat during the London and Berlin marathons the year before. Along the course, she found motivation in the support of fellow Dana-Farber runners as well as family and friends cheering her on.

One of the most memorable moments of the day came near the finish, when Erin briefly stopped to see Tommy Rivers Puzey, the endurance athlete and cancer survivor whose resilience has inspired runners around the world. Erin had previously met Tommy in New York and shared that his iFit training programs played a major role in helping her prepare for her early marathons after the loss of her friend. Despite his own serious health challenges, Tommy continues to encourage others through endurance sports. “Being able to take a few moments to see him and encourage him was truly worth the few seconds lost off my finish time,” Erin said.

Crossing the finish line brought a sense of pride and relief. “I was really proud of myself, as I always am, because so much time and effort go into getting there,” she reflected. “There’s definitely a sense of relief, too.” The experience reinforced a mindset Erin carries into every challenge: “I can do hard things.” This year, she also set out to improve her marathon time, once again demonstrating the value of perseverance and determination.

Erin’s marathon journey is continuing. She plans to run the Chicago Marathon in 2026 and hopes to take part in the Tokyo Marathon in 2027, continuing to pair endurance racing with causes that create meaningful impact. Through every mile, Erin Peters has shown that running is about far more than reaching the finish line. For her, it is a way to honor loved ones, support lifesaving research, and inspire others to keep moving forward.

To join Erin in supporting Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and help advance lifesaving cancer research and patient care, please consider making a donation today on their donation site.

About Erin L. Peters

Erin L. Peters is a partner in Tressler’s Litigation Practice Group in our Morristown, New Jersey office. Erin’s practice focuses on the representation of insurers and insureds in both state and federal courts. Erin has 15 years of experience litigating complex defense matters in New Jersey and New York. Her extensive litigation experience includes handling complex defense and coverage matters in various practice areas, including premises liability, products liability, automobile negligence, wrongful death, dram shop, professional liability, intentional torts, and employment practices liability.

In addition to the practice of law, Erin enjoys participating in seminars and speaking engagements. She has served as a panelist and moderator for a variety of seminars and webinars hosted by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, and the New Jersey Defense Association. Click here to read Erin’s full attorney biography.

About Tressler

Headquartered in Chicago, with ten offices located in six states, Tressler LLP is a national law firm comprised primarily of attorneys who devote their practice to the representation of the insurance industry in coverage analysis and resolution, litigation, underwriting consultation, product development, claims management, and reinsurance.

In addition, Tressler has one of the most experienced and multi-faceted government law practices in Illinois, and has attorneys who represent clients in commercial litigation, defense litigation, corporate transactions, employment law and litigation, intellectual property, and condominium and common interest community association law.

For more information, please visit www.tresslerllp.com.