BrightBridge Credit Union (BrightBridge) is inviting members and the community to support Boston Children’s Hospital through its Chain of Hearts fundraising campaign, running from now through Friday, April 10, at all BrightBridge branches.
The campaign is part of BrightBridge’s partnership with Credit Unions Kids at Heart (CUKH), a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and funding scientific research to prevent, treat and cure pediatric neurological diseases, including cerebral palsy, pediatric epilepsy and seizure disorders, pediatric brain cancer, Moyamoya Disease and other complex conditions. BrightBridge Consumer Underwriting Manager Matthew Medeiros is a member of CUKH’s 2026 Boston Marathon team. This will be Medeiros’ second time running the Boston Marathon for the organization, having first participated in 2019.
“The Boston Marathon is Credit Unions Kids at Heart’s largest fundraising effort to support the work that Boston Children’s Hospital does in our focus areas,” says Chairman of the CUKH Foundation Jane Melchionda “Support from BrightBridge and Matt makes a meaningful difference in conquering pediatric disease—for the doctors who are doing breakthrough research and for the families who benefit from critical support services.”
When Medeiros first ran the Boston Marathon in 2019, he was paired through CUKH with his patient partner, Vraj, now a 14-year-old living with cerebral palsy. The two have remained connected since that first race, and Medeiros is once again running in Vraj’s honor in 2026.
“Matt and Vraj share a special bond, and we are so grateful that Matt is running again in honor of Vraj and in support of Credit Unions Kids at Heart research projects,” said Bhavina Hirapara, Vraj’s mother. “Vraj has cerebral palsy and a history of seizures. Research in these areas can help support not only Vraj’s journey, but also others affected by similar conditions—by providing resources and helping with prevention and treatment. We are thankful that Matt’s goals align with ours and that he is supporting Credit Unions Kids at Heart for these meaningful reasons.”
Through the Chain of Hearts campaign, BrightBridge members and team members are encouraged to visit any branch and make a minimum $5 donation to Medeiros’ marathon fundraiser. Each donor is invited to write a message of encouragement on a paper heart, which is then displayed in the branch, creating a visible and growing chain of community support.
CUKH was established in 1996 by Eastern Corporate Federal Credit Union (EasCorp) of Burlington, Mass., alongside a small group of Massachusetts credit unions. Since then, the organization has grown to include dozens of participating credit unions and corporate sponsors across the country. Together, they unite the credit union community’s charitable efforts, demonstrating the industry’s shared commitment to collaboration and meaningful impact within the communities they serve.
BrightBridge will share updates on the Chain of Hearts campaign and Medeiros’ marathon journey through its social media channels and monthly member newsletter. Members and community members interested in supporting the campaign can visit any BrightBridge branch during the campaign period or learn more about Medeiros’ fundraising efforts at http://secure.childrenshospital.org/goto/MattMedeiros.