A MESSAGE FROM Back to NYC—Running With Purpose
My Story: Why I'm Running for Brave Like Gabe
Invitation
Mary Oliver
...it is a serious thing
just to be alive
on this fresh morning
in the broken world.
My mother was killed when I was 19 months old.
I don’t remember being 19 months old.
All I’ve ever known is that I have a dad.
I have a dad.
All I’ve ever known is my dad.
For a long time, I thought it was normal to just have a dad.
It wasn’t an easy normal. Not easy in ways I can’t explain here.
My dad worked a lot. I tried with everything in me to be a good daughter.
Then, just as I do now, I always wanted more time with him.
Last year, I had the honor—the dream—of running in the elite field of the New York City Marathon. That kind of moment has always felt fragile, fleeting, like something I might wake up from. But I’ve spent my life trying to make the most of what I’ve been given. I’ve always had an awareness that life is not guaranteed. That one day, quietly, it ends. My mom was 32 when she died. I’ve outlived her already—but I always wonder… by how much?
Two days before the race, I came down with a rough virus. I didn’t squander the opportunity, but I only made it 4 miles before I had to step off the course. There was nothing left to give. And what was weighing even heavier was this: my dad had been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia just that July. My husband Michael and I had quickly become his caregivers. And once again, I was reminded—life is fragile. Time is precious. Everything can change in a moment.
I wanted so badly to do something that would make him proud. To give us both something to hold onto in the middle of so much unknown. And for months after that race, I couldn’t let go of the feeling that I needed to go back. I had to finish what I started.
But now, I know it’s not just about finishing. It’s about doing it for something bigger than myself.
That’s why I’m running the 2025 NYC Marathon not as an elite, but as part of the Brave Like Gabe team. I’ve long admired Gabe Grunewald—not just as a runner, but as a force of hope, determination, and resilience. Gabe was diagnosed with a rare cancer—Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma—and continued chasing her dreams with remarkable courage. Her foundation funds rare cancer research, brings visibility to patients who are often overlooked, and inspires all of us to keep going.
When my dad started treatment, I ordered us Celebrate Everything hats from Brave Like Gabe. I didn’t know how much I’d come to rely on that message. Now, it’s the reminder I carry with me as I train, give care, and keep showing up—day after day.
In the past, I’ve taken on fundraisers like this before. I once raised over $10,000 to support a dear friend and elite runner who was hit by a car. So while Brave Like Gabe asks each runner to raise $4,500, I’ve set a personal goal of $15,000. Big goals are kind of what I do. And this one matters deeply.
The truth is, cancer is no longer rare in its reach. It feels like every week brings another diagnosis, another loss. Just in the past two weeks, two people I know have died from it. I see this problem growing—eerily, undeniably—and I know I’m not alone. Cancer will likely touch every one of us in some way, if it hasn’t already.
To kick things off, I’ve made a symbolic first gift of $26.20—a nod to the miles I’ll run.
And I want to bring some joy into the process too.
If you donate $50 or more, you’ll receive a delicious gift from my dear friend Marisa, founder of Raw Bites by Risa—a small business that spreads health and light through food. Supporting her work while supporting cancer research feels exactly right.
Yes, I want to run fast in New York. But the finish line I care most about is the one where we raise these funds together. Where we make a dent—however small—in this big, heartbreaking problem. Where we run toward something better.
I don’t know what the next months will look like. But I know I’ll keep running. And I know that every mile—and every dollar—will mean something more than I can say.
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