Mansfield Man Running First Marathon with Andruzzi Foundation

Mansfield resident Richard DeSilva is running in the Boston Marathon for the first time Monday. Despite a neck injury that took him off training for a few weeks, he says there’s more than self-determination pushing him for the run.

"I am a cancer survivor myself," DeSilva said.

He said that he recently lost a friend from a brain tumor. He said it was the work of the Joe Andruzzi Foundation and his friend’s struggle with cancer that inspired him to run in the marathon this year.

“A lot of people I know have been hit hard by cancer in some way shape or form in the last couple of years,” he said. “That’s what’s inspired me to do something to try to, in what was a personally devastating experience for me, do something positive for someone else.”

DeSilva said he had a neck injury a few months ago that took him off of training for nearly two months. Despite the injury, he says he’s ready and rearing to go.

"I had to take seven weeks off because of a neck injury," he said. "I've just recently been back in training for the last four or five weeks. I've done a few long runs, I feel like physically I'm ready."

DeSilva said that his training deficit is the least of his current concerns. Dehydration is a worry for even the most seasoned runner, and the expected heat for the day of the marathon is a big concern of his.

"I think at this point I'm a little more worried that it's going to be like 85 degrees," he said.

DeSilva said he is not a superstitious person, and that, besides a constant daily ritual, he believes he needs only his determination and will for the run.

"Aside from stretching, I give my kids a hug and a kiss and have them wish me luck," he said. "That's about it."