Team BCNC: Cynthia Lin and Steven Hanton

We’re excited to announce our two runners for Team BCNC in Boston Marathon 2022. Welcome Cynthia and Steven!

About Steven:

I'm running the 126th Boston Marathon this year. And I'm excited to be doing so for BCNC.

I am not an athlete. Or wasn't. As a self-avowed theatre kid, my childhood was spent far away from the track. But a few years ago, a close friend invited me to go running with her: two miles, and I barely made it. It was horrible, but she was patient, and we took as many breaks as I needed.  

That was seven years ago. I didn't feel the runner's high she mentioned on that first run, but eventually, I began to love running.

My connection to the Chinese community has always been linguistic: I started learning Mandarin at 17 and it was a humbling experience. But studying the language also gave me the opportunity to meet folks in- and outside of the Chinese diaspora. And through that, I was introduced to BCNC and the important role it serves for thousands of Bostonians. BCNC empowers Asians and new immigrants to build healthy families, achieve greater economic success and contribute to thriving communities by providing a range of family-centered programs and services. It's an integral form of support for Asian Americans in the greater Boston area.

It's also how I met some of my closest friends, who've changed my life for the better. So, I'm excited to run for a great cause this year: BCNC.

About Cynthia:

I'm running the Boston Marathon for #TeamBCNC to support fostering inclusive communities for Asians and new immigrants.

Like many children of immigrants, I learned to code switch, brushing off comments like, "You're too Asian. You're not American enough." Fearing confrontation, I suppressed the hurt emotions. Eventually I asked, "Why am I minimizing myself to appease their ignorance?" Seeking to rediscover and reaffirm my multi-faceted identity, I channeled my energy into creative projects and nature experiences. I had the privilege to participate in a multi-week storytelling workshop sponsored by Pao Arts Center and The Podcast Garage where I processed an impactful and painful personal event linked to racism, transforming it into a powerful story to share in front of a live audience. I'm grateful my parents cultivated communities to give me roots and a deep appreciation of my heritage. I'm proud to be Taiwanese-American, a runner, and much more.

BCNC helped me on my journey to reclaim my voice. I hope we can collectively create spaces for new immigrants to feel at home, and that we continue to share our stories and learn from one another.