For many, the Boston Marathon is one of those challenges on a lifetime bucket list. But just being willing to attempt to run 26 miles and 385 yards in one afternoon is one thing, being an official entrant is something else.

Adam Hawkes of Amherst, a former lacrosse and football player at Plymouth State and now a salesman working from home, has always had a body better suited for playing nose tackle or linebacker on a football field than running long distances.

But the Boston Marathon was always on that list, and last year he found a way to become an official runner. Hawkes signed up to run for the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge, which since its inception in 1990 has raised over $56 million for Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Over 500 runners enlisted in the program last year. Each runner has to raise a minimum of $4,000. Last year’s total alone was $4.6 million.

Last year, in Hawkes first attempt, he raised over $7,500 and was able to complete the marathon despite temperatures in the 90s. He’s hoping to hit that figure against this year.

If a stress fracture didn’t keep her on the sidelines this year, Nashua’s Marjorie Morse would be running in her 23rd marathon and 19th in support of Dana-Farber and cancer research.

She ran it initially to honor the memory of her father, who passed away in 1989 from colon cancer.

“I now run for many people, unfortunately,’’ Morse said.

Morse also participates in the In-Memory Partner Program, which matches runners with families who had a child treated at Dana-Farber, but passed away.

This would have been Morse’s 10th year in memory of Anthony Quartarone, a little boy who lost his battle 14 years ago at age 8.

“Yes, I am upset about not running,’’ Morse said, “but it really is about raising money to help fight cancer.’’

Morse said she continues to get donations even though she can’t run. Incredibly, she’s raised $99,100 in 19 years. And yes, Morse completed last year’s race, despite the searing temperatures.

You might remember Trisha Winton as an outstanding high school sprinter at Nashua High School in the early 1990s. She went on to a Division I track scholarship at the University of Rhode Island.

Winton, whose parents still live in Nashua, is running her first marathon at Boston this year to raise money for the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation and the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards.

So far, she’ raised over $6,500.

“You’d never expect a sprinter to be running a marathon,’’ said Winton, now 38. “But two years ago I ran my first half marathon. I’ve been training with our team, trying to get ready.’’

Winton, who lives in Canton, Ma., works in Newton, a short walk from a section of the marathon course. She’s run part of the course in training, including Heartbreak hill.

Winton says she still draws inspiration from her former high school coaches Pauline Albert and Bill Hardy.

She attended the dinner last year when Albert, who passed away from cancer at the age of 47 in 1997, was elected into the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame.

Gary Dionne of Amherst will be running in his first marathon at the age of 60, in support of Boston Children’s Hospital. Two years ago his daughter, Kelli Wholey, ran in support of the same organization.

“A few years ago one of the list items was to get my private pilot’s license, which I did,’’ Dionne said. “I’m not sure what’s been harder, the pilot’s license or training for the marathon.

“I did 21 miles last Saturday so I guess I have 26.2 miles in me.’’

For Hawkes, Morse, Winton, Dionne and other local runners who will be running Boston this year to support a charity, it’s not about a great time, it’s more about posting a big number to the right of a dollar sign.

The following are links to donation pages for the four participants listed in the story.

Trisha Winton

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/TrishaWinton/New-England-Patriots-Charitable-Foundation-Boston

Adam Hawkes

www.runDFMC.org/2013/adamh

Margorie Morse

http://www.RunDFMC.org/2013/marjoriem

Gary Dionne:

http://www.milesformiracles.org/boston/garydionne

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