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 that 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 set a personal goal of $15,000. With shaking hands as I type this, I have reached that goal. $15,000 raised. SO now I want to see how much more I can raise. I've been told to move the goal post. To have something concrete for you, my support crew, to help me achieve. But I'm going to go against convention and ask you to help me see how silly that $15,000 goal was. How big can we break what I thought was possible, and in essence, together show that goals are meant to be broken and surpassed... that we all too often underestimate the power of our collective efforts.
The very hard truth is, cancer is no longer rare in its reach. It feels like every week brings another diagnosis, another loss. When I first wrote this message, two people I know died from it in a span of just two weeks. 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.
You can donate a dollar for every mile I am going to run, you can donate a number that is meaningful to you, or if you can't donate right now simply sharing the message will do more than you realize.
In an effort to add a little extra love to this journey, if you donate $50 or more, you’ll receive a gift from me to spend at Raw Bites by Risa, a small business that spreads health and light through food. Supporting this founder's work while supporting cancer research is another win-win. AND yes, some who know me might think it is a selfish way to get yummy treats (haha), but really it adds that cherry on the top of meaning for me.
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.
Photos & Videos
