On one of the hottest marathon days on record, three committed individuals ran 26.2 miles for Cure Alzheimer’s Fund—Peter and Ann Bulson of Wellesley, Mass., and Anna Shepard of Cape Cod, Mass. While they all had trained hard, nothing could prepare them for the blistering temperatures on Patriot’s Day 2012.

Still, these avid runners persevered, sticking together throughout the race in Boston and finishing within eight minutes of each other. “Basically, the only reason I finished,” says Peter Bulson, “was because I was running for Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. I couldn’t let them down.”

Together—along with the support of Pam Girouard of the Boston area, who assisted in coordinating the group—they raised almost $13,400 toward finding a cure. “We are so appreciative of their commitment and passion to make a difference,” says Tim Armour, president and CEO, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.