Fighting hereditary cancer from Boston to Berlin

On September 29, 2024, sisters Kristina Coccoluto and Stephanie Bramante ran the BMW Berlin Marathon as part of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s inaugural team for this race. Finishing the marathon helped the sisters get one step closer to their goal of completing the original six Abbott World Marathon Majors. Running for Dana-Farber helped them progress toward an even bigger goal: fighting back against hereditary cancer.

Kristina’s and Stephanie’s lives have been profoundly impacted by cancer. Their mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor, and their father is currently a patient at Dana-Farber. They also lost their Aunt Katie to ovarian cancer. Because of their family history with hereditary cancer related to the BRCA1 gene mutation, the sisters underwent testing to see if they also carried the gene. Stephanie tested negative, but Kristina turned out to be a carrier.

To reduce her cancer risk, Kristina, a mother of three, underwent a double mastectomy at the age of 30, and a complete hysterectomy at 36. Today, she is a proud member of the “previvor” community—those at risk of cancer who have not yet been diagnosed—and an advocate for others with a similar family cancer history. Together, Kristina and Stephanie were motivated by their experience to raise awareness and funds to further the critical research that helped reduce Kristina’s cancer risk. Racing for Dana-Farber has allowed the sisters to combine their passion for running with their mission of defying cancer.

Although the Berlin Marathon was their first international race, it wasn’t their first World Marathon Major, or their first race with Dana-Farber. In 2023, together with their sister Vanessa, Kristina and Stephanie completed the Boston Marathon® with the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) team. Like Kristina, Vanessa is also a carrier of the BRCA1 gene, and thanks to genetic testing, she was also able to undergo preventive procedures to reduce her risk of cancer. As a new mom, Vanessa was unable to join her sisters for the Berlin Marathon, but her support of Kristina and Stephanie helped carry them across the finish line.

With two different races for Dana-Farber under their belts, Kristina and Stephanie realized that despite the very different courses and conditions, one thing was the same: “Whether running in our home city of Boston or internationally in Berlin, I learned that the impact of wearing the blue Dana-Farber singlet is felt worldwide,” Stephanie says. 

Kristina also noted that the level of support she felt was not something she was expecting, or was emotionally prepared for. 

“Boston understands the impact of Dana-Farber like no other place on earth. However, in Berlin, other runners from around the world acknowledged and recognized our blue ‘Run for Dana-Farber’ singlets, too, telling us their own cancer stories while we ran on the course,” Kristina recalls. “It was a clear reminder that cancer doesn’t discriminate, no matter where you live in the world. Being thanked by Berlin runners and spectators was something that will stay with us forever.”

Another element that made the Berlin Marathon so special for Kristina and Stephanie was the ability to dedicate their fundraising efforts to support the BRCA1 research of Judy Garber, MD, MPH, chief of the Division of Cancer Genetics and Prevention and the Susan F. Smith Chair at Dana-Farber.

“To get to raise funds for the research that not only saved my life, but also could advance the quality of life for my children and other high-risk families, feels like the most meaningful run of my life,” Kristina says.

When asked how they stay motivated through marathon training cycles, the sisters acknowledge that they draw inspiration from many different sources: their community who cheers them on and supports their fundraising goals; their past, current, and future selves; and their Aunt Katie. “Our aunt passed away 19 years ago, but the legacy of her love stays with us.”

For those thinking of applying to run a World Major Marathon with Dana-Farber, Kristina and Stephanie couldn’t recommend it more: “It was a 10/10 experience!” 

As for what’s next, both sisters are eager to keep racing with Dana-Farber and raising funds for critical cancer research. “We are both so grateful to Dana-Farber for the opportunity to make history with their first Berlin team, and to help raise funds for the very research that’s helping our family,” Stephanie says.

To learn more about running for Dana-Farber, visit RunDanaFarber.org or contact the Running Programs staff at 617-632-1970 or DFRunners@dfci.harvard.edu.

Sign up for a race with Dana-Farber’s team today and help support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving mission to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide through community-based fundraising events and other programs that solely and directly benefit Dana-Farber. Learn more about how you can get involved at JimmyFund.org, and follow the Jimmy Fund on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram: @TheJimmyFund.