He’s running Boston ‘to take action for the next generation’

Boston Marathon

Daniel Ayane is running the 2025 Boston Marathon for Goodwill.

By Annie Jonas

April 10, 2025 | 7:00 PM

1 minute to read

In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.

Name: Daniel Ayane
Age: 27
From: New York, New York

I’m excited to run my first Boston Marathon on April 21, 2025, as part of Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries’ team. I chose to run for Goodwill because their mission to support youth employment deeply resonates with me.

As the son of Ethiopian immigrants, I’ve seen the impact of limited opportunity — and I know how access to support and resources can change a life. While living in London, I volunteered as a tutor for low-income students, teaching math and physics to help them overcome educational barriers and prepare for university. Today, I’m a Product Manager at Meta, and I continue to mentor young people as part of my commitment to paying it forward.

When I first discovered Goodwill, I immediately felt aligned with their purpose. Supporting young people who face obstacles in building a career is something I truly care about. My goal is to raise $6,000 to fund their youth programs. I’ve built a plan that includes outreach to friends and colleagues, fundraising events, and social media campaigns.

I currently run about 35 miles per week at an 8-minute pace, and I’m aiming to finish just under four hours. I’m grateful for the chance to run for a cause that means so much to me — and I hope my journey inspires others to take action for the next generation.

Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.

Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.