Boston Woman Runs Boston Marathon to Support Grief Counseling Nonprofit

Drudys Ledbetter raises $25,000 for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in memory of her late brother

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:50pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a runner's feet on a city street, surrounded by a warm, hazy glow of colorful bokeh lights, conceptually representing the emotional journey of grief and healing.A runner's personal mission to honor a lost loved one brings hope and healing to a community in need.Boston Today

Drudys Ledbetter, a Boston-area nurse and nonprofit founder, is running the 2026 Boston Marathon to raise $25,000 for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, a nonprofit that supports families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief and loss. Ledbetter is running in memory of her brother, Wolf Ruben Valmond, who was shot and killed in 2019 at the age of 37. This is Ledbetter's second consecutive Boston Marathon, but she says she feels she's running with her brother this year, not just for him.

Why it matters

The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute provides critical grief counseling and support services in Boston, a city that has seen high rates of unsolved violent crimes and young lives lost. Ledbetter's fundraising efforts will help the institute expand its programming and build a new community center to serve those impacted by tragedy.

The details

Ledbetter, a nurse and the founder of Project Destigmatize Healthcare, reached out to the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute last year about running the Boston Marathon for their cause. This year, she is captaining a four-person charity team for the institute, its first-ever marathon running crew. Ledbetter says she is close to reaching her $25,000 fundraising goal, which will make a significant difference for the institute's operations and its plans to construct a new headquarters in Dorchester.

  • Ledbetter will be running the 2026 Boston Marathon on Monday, April 21.
  • Wolf Ruben Valmond, Ledbetter's brother, was shot and killed in December 2019 at the age of 37.

The players

Drudys Ledbetter

A Boston-area nurse and nonprofit founder who is running the 2026 Boston Marathon to raise $25,000 for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in memory of her late brother.

Wolf Ruben Valmond

Ledbetter's brother, who was shot and killed in 2019 at the age of 37 while pursuing his dream of becoming a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent.

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute

A Boston-based nonprofit that supports families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief and loss. The institute is constructing a new headquarters in Dorchester to expand its programming.

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What they’re saying

“In those long runs, you're by yourself, in your head, and I was very intentional about just moving through whatever grief was left in my body, and letting it go, and moving into that place of acceptance.”

— Drudys Ledbetter, Boston Marathon Runner

“I feel when we cross that finish line, it's going to be me and him, going, 'This is our new normal. This is how we connect. This is how we engage as siblings. This is a beautiful way to bond.'”

— Drudys Ledbetter, Boston Marathon Runner

What’s next

Ledbetter is close to reaching her $25,000 fundraising goal for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. The institute is also constructing a new headquarters in Dorchester that will serve as a 'pillar of peace in the community' and require additional funding to support its programming.

The takeaway

Ledbetter's story highlights the power of turning personal tragedy into positive change for the community. Her fundraising efforts for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute will provide critical resources to support families and individuals impacted by violence, grief, and loss in Boston.