Carlisle Jensen Running Boston Marathon To Honor Her Father

Carlisle Jensen was always an athlete. She grew up swimming and playing soccer, but running for enjoyment and pleasure was never on her daily agenda. That all changed when Jensen’s father, Paul, was diagnosed with ALS in January of 2018. Jensen needed to find a release and something that could help her cope with the realization her father had a terminal illness.

“I always say that I am not a doctor so I couldn’t fix him but at least I could run and raise some money,” Jensen said. “This is my fourth major run. I ran two marathons in 2019. I did the Falmouth Road Race this past summer and ran the Boston Marathon in 2019.”

Jensen used her newfound passion for running as an escape and therapy. When her father passed away on November 11, 2020 she continued to do so, but also began to find more ways to raise money in her father’s memory and to give back to the organization who was with her family every step of the way.

The organization Jensen is running the 2022 Boston Marathon for is called Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS). CCALS supplies support services for individuals and family members who are battling ALS.

The Jensen’s knew about ALS through the viral Ice Bucket Challenge movement in 2014, but didn’t truly understand the mental, physical, and financial tolls the disease created for families until they lived it themselves. Jensen said she can’t imagine where she and her family would be without CCALS.

“It is a really phenomenal organization who supports individuals, families, healthcare providers, and is just a huge advocate for the disease. They are a wonderful organization and we worked with them quite closely when my Dad was first diagnosed”

Jensen said CCALS director Ron Hoffman came to their home and gave them “ALS 101” by explaining what the next few years of their lives would look like, what to expect, what the different options are to continue maintaining the best quality of life, and different resources they could access at Mass General Hospital.

“He really helped myself and my family understand what the next three years of our lives were going to look like and how we could live with ALS,” Jensen said. “We were just so grateful for him and that is a big reason why CCALS is the organization I am running for this year.”

She said the only way to describe Hoffman is that he became a best friend they could turn to no matter what the situation was.

“After doctor’s appointments, we would give Ron a call,” Jensen said. “After my Dad would fall, we would call Ron and he would say ‘okay this is what you need.’ When my Dad started having trouble using the computer, they sent over a mouse he could use with his glasses. He walked us through every step of the disease and continues to support us as we grieve the loss of my father. They offer support groups and grief counseling, but Ron just checks on his own by sending us a quick email. It is really wonderful.”

Jensen raised money for the ALS Association in previous races, but is excited to be raising funds for an organization she has a more direct relationship with.

“Raising the funds for the ALS Association was a little pie in the sky for me where I didn’t have a direct connection to the organization,” Jensen said. “I obviously had a direct connection to ALS, but I haven’t necessarily benefitted personally from the organization where as CCALS is really personal. I am really proud to be running on behalf of Compassionate Care and to raise as much money as I can for them.”

Jensen said she has raised over $50,000 by running in marathons. She has raised over $13,000 for this year’s Boston Marathon, which you can donate to by clicking here.

“I don’t run because of the money, but I am so grateful for everyone who has stepped up to support me. To raise all of that money for a great cause with just me and these little legs, that seems like a huge accomplishment.”

To read about all eight Nantucket residents running in the 2022 Boston Marathon, click here. You can donate to Jensen's cause by clicking here.