WORCESTER, Mass. - A special surprise for a local college student running the 129th Boston Marathon. Before running Marathon Monday, Conrad Miller-Fabregas will be going to the Red Sox game on Friday and throwing out the first pitch.

He found out at the send-off party in his honor at Assumption University.

“I thought it was awesome," Conrad Miller-Fabregas said. "And I appreciate all the people that planned and came out to show support today.”

“Conrad is really such a big face on our campus. He is loved by the whole student body," Talia Caloggero of the AU disability awareness team said. "He's really just a blessing to have on this campus. We love him so much.”

Miller-Fabregas is running the Boston Marathon in support of Special Olympics Massachusetts.

“I'm on the Xtra Mile team for it. And they promote inclusion, do events for individuals with intellectual (and) developmental disabilities," Miller-Fabregas said. "And I'm happy to be with them and with my teammates.”

As an autism advocate, Miller-Fabregas has worked with the Special Olympics since high school back home in Arizona. The college student was diagnosed with autism as an adult and now hopes to inspire others.

“What I mean by ‘showing people what's possible’ is that even though, I have struggles and setbacks due to disabilities like autism, it's still possible to do these insane achievements, like run a full marathon and one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, known as the Boston Marathon," Miller-Fabregas said. "And how this not only applies to running, but anywhere in life, such as grades, because my GPA is like a 3.87. And many people told me I couldn't do it. But a lot of times if someone says, ‘Oh, only a small amount of people in your group can get there’, I'd say, ‘Well, I'll be the next one’.”

Adding to the surprises on Tuesday, Miller-Fabregas’ sister Avery made the trip to Worcester from Wellesley College where she’ll be watching the marathon.

“He did not know I was coming," Avery Miller-Fabregas said. "He inspires me every single day. I can see the way people look at him, and I've seen people just, you know, change their whole mindsets once they hear his story.”

And as far as plans on Marathon Monday…

“There's so many great stories on Monday," Bank of America Worcester president Michael Garand said. "But to find someone like Conrad, it's just incredible.”

“He's going to do phenomenal on Monday," Caloggero said. "We're so proud of him. Assumption’s rooting for Conrad.”

“I'm going to be watching from Wellesley College in the scream tunnel, right at the halfway point of the marathon," Miller-Fabregas said. "I'm going to have a little Conrad section with all of my friends, a sign with his name on it, and we're just going to see him do his thing.”

Miller-Fabregas is looking forward to showing people what’s possible.

“Definitely under three hours," Miller-Fabregas said he's hoping for. "And proud to represent the Xtra Mile team and to be part of the small group of people that complete a marathon every year. And just taking it all in as well.”