Tom O'Keefe is the founder of Stride for Stride, Heart to Cart, Bostontweet and the author of Transplant Marathon, his autobiography about receiving a kidney transplant on January 10, 2024, and then running the Brooklyn Half Marathon four months after his transplant and the New York City Marathon ten months post kidney transplant.
​
Ten months after his kidney transplant, Tom O'Keefe ran the NYC Marathon on November 3, 2024, with his kidney donor, Jorge. Then on April 21, 2025, Tom and Jorge ran the Boston Marathon together. And, most recently on October 12, 2025, Tom ran the Chicago Marathon.
Within one year and nine months of his kidney transplant, Tom ran and finished the three US-based Abbott World Marathon Majors. Tom's goal is to complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors (London, Berlin, Tokyo, NYC, Boston, Chicago) and become the first known kidney transplant recipient to receive Six Stars.
Tom runs marathons to show others that kidney transplant recipients can do hard things like running world major marathons. Tom also wants to give hope to future and current transplant recipients that you can too.
​​​​
-
Kidney Transplant Recipient on 01/10/24
-
Ran NYC Marathon with Kidney Donor on 11/03/24
-
Ran Boston Marathon with Kidney Donor on 4/21/25
-
Ran the Chicago Marathon on 10/12/25
​
Stride for Stride is a non-profit running organization that buys race bibs for immigrant, BIPOC, and low-income runners.
​
Learn more about Transplant Marathon.
Transplant Marathon
On January 10, 2024, Tom O'Keefe received a life saving kidney donation from his Stride for Stride teammate, Jorge Rosales.
On November 3, 2024, Tom and Jorge ran the NYC Marathon together just 10 months after their transplant.
This book is the story of Tom and Jorge's journey through kidney decline, donor tests, kidney transplant surgery, and training for the NYC Marathon.
​
Venmo $25 to @BostonTweet (Tom O'Keefe) with your name and address for a signed copy. US ONLY.​​​
​
Things I've Created
Stride for Stride
Stride for Stride is a non-profit running organization that buys race bibs for immigrant, BIPOC, and low-income runners. We currently sponsors 250 runners from 22 countries to run any race they want. More info at StrideForStride.com
Heart to Cart
Tom founded Heart to Cart in April 2020 to purchase $100 supermarket for people in Boston who were suffering the most during the pandemic. During 2020 Heart to Cart delivered over $60,000 in supermarket gift cards.
Bostontweet
Tom founded Bostontweet in 2008 as a way to promote local Boston business during the recession. During the past 15 years Bostontweet has grown to over 300,000 followers in the city.
#DownloadBoston
In 2014, Tom created #DownloadBoston as a way to create awareness for Boston based consumer startups.
Flutter
In June 2015, Tom co-founded Flutter to create amazing local experiences for local charities. Flutter was the opposite of an auction in that donations were capped at $10 to give everyone an equal chance at winning, regardless of financial wealth.
Flutter raised $125,000+ for numerous Boston charities - all via $10 donations.
.jpg)
Kidney Runners
Kidney Runners is a running community of kidney donors and kidney recipients who run road races in support of donors and recipients currently going through the transplant process.
Transplant Marathon
It’s a Marathon, not a Sprint
​​
We’ve all heard this phrase before - it means you have to pace yourself to get to the finish line. If you start a marathon with a sprint then you’ll most likely never reach the finish line. Living with Chronic Kidney Disease and waiting for a kidney donor is sort of like a marathon - you have to pace yourself to get to the finishing line (a kidney transplant).
​​
At the start you have no idea how long it’s going to take to find a donor. You might have to pace yourself through dialysis and you might have to pace yourself through ever increasing fatigue. During a marathon you can’t give up if you want to reach the finish line. And, living with kidney disease you can’t give up if you want to receive a kidney donation. Stay positive. Stay healthy, and don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.​
​
----------​
Excerpt from Transplant Marathon. Purchase on B&N or Amazon, or;
​
Venmo $25 to @BostonTweet (Tom O'Keefe) with your name and address for a signed copy. US ONLY.
All Videos
Contact Tom O'Keefe
Boston, MA
617-947-8071