Spotlight on Tarra Curran, Virtual Haunted Walk Co-Chair

Tarra Curran, along with her husband, John, is co-chairing the Boston Shriners Hospital’s first ever Virtual Haunted Walk. Scheduled from October 25 to November 2, participants can walk from wherever they want, all while supporting and advancing the hospital mission. Tarra’s leadership in raising funds for the hospital goes well beyond a philanthropic commitment. Her connection to the Boston Shriners Hospital is deeply personal.

As a small child, Tarra was badly burned over almost 50% of her body when she fell into a bathtub of scalding water. At the time, Tarra and her family were living in the United Kingdom, where her burns were initially treated. When the family moved to the United States, they sought continued care for Tarra, which brought them to the Boston Shriners Hospital.

“I was a patient at Shriners [Hospital] for over a decade. I had multiple surgeries on my hands, legs and torso, and their related mobility, as I grew into my teenage years,” Tarra said. “Although I was nervous and dreaded the actual surgeries, as any child would, I received amazing care both during the surgical stays as well as during the follow-up occupational and physical therapy appointments.”

Tarra’s hospital stays ranged from a few days to over a week, with many outpatient visits after surgery. Recalling her hospital stays, Tarra has fond memories of the learning center, where she would try to maintain her studies, given that some of her surgeries took place during the school years. In addition, she remembers the road trips that she and other patients took “through the tunnel” and over to Massachusetts General Hospital to visit the gift shop. Although the road trips were not long or far, they helped brighten her spirits during hospital stays.

Tarra said her doctors always took time to explain every surgical procedure to her parents so they knew what to expect. “As an adult, I look back on my Shriners experience as nothing short of amazing. The care I received was outstanding, and the support that my family and I received was truly life-changing,” Tarra said.

As Tarra reflected on her injury and her experiences at the Boston Shriners Hospital, she knew she wanted to give back to an organization that had helped her heal. That initiative started when Tarra became a founding member of the Shriners Hospitals for Children — Boston Corporate Kidz Kouncil.

Tarra was drawn to the Virtual Haunted Walk because it was a creative and fun way to help patients receive life-changing care – as she did as a child. Tarra also realized that it gave her an opportunity to tell her own story. “I always knew I would share my experiences at Shriners with a wider audience one day, but I needed time to reflect on what I wanted to say. When I was invited to take a leadership role with the Virtual Haunted Walk, the timing felt right to share my own story. I hope it inspires people to give what they can or even start their own team,” said Tarra.

When they are not promoting the Virtual Haunted Walk, Tarra and John enjoy golf, home improvement projects and spending time with loved ones. They also love to travel and hope to start doing that again soon.

Learn more about the Virtual Haunted Walk!