Inspirational Stories

In the fall of 2022, my cousin lost her battle with leukemia. She was the most lovely (a word that makes me think of her) and kind person, and at the memorial service, Kate's sister said Kate had said, "There is nothing better than to be young and to run." This sentiment stuck with me for a long time as I am also a runner, and I started thinking about how I could honor her in my own way. The family had directed those who wished to donate to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), so I researched and discovered Team In Training (TNT). As a NYC local, the marathon is always the highlight of my year, and I couldn't imagine a better way to honor her memory than by participating in my first-ever marathon. I applied the second the application was released and was thrilled to receive a spot in the 2023 TCS NYC Marathon. I fundraised all year, and I was so touched by each donation I received. Training was tough, but knowing I was running for a purpose made all the difference. The weekend of the marathon, my cousin Jay (Kate's husband) and other family members came into the city to cheer me on. He had just attended the Light The Night (LTN) event in Philadelphia the weekend earlier to honor Kate, and it was such a special experience for our family. Thanks to some last-minute donations when I was on mile 24 (the fundraising grind never stops!), I was able to raise over $11K which is still one of my proudest accomplishments in my life (next to running a marathon at #2). It was a life-changing experience and probably the best day of my life.