A MESSAGE FROM Brooke DiPalma, on behalf of P.S. I Love You Day for Team AFSP
Hi! I’m Brooke DiPalma, a 25-year-old from Long Island, New York running the 2021 NYC Marathon with Team AFSP (wait, did I really just say that?). You see, I wouldn’t consider myself “a runner” per se, in fact I’ve only run one half marathon, but this past year changed that.
Last year, I moved back home due to the pandemic and worked from home.
As a sister and daughter of educators, I was left home alone during the work days and while I feel incredibly grateful and admire all those who worked in-person during these difficult 15 months - the isolation, the loneliness and the lack of the social interaction, left me feeling lost.
It’s been 11 years since we lost our father, Joseph DiPalma, Jr., to suicide. I was 14 years old, my sister 18. Now all these years later, while sitting at home - I couldn’t help but wonder “What would it be like if my dad also had to work from home during this time?” … “What I would give to have to leave a room because we both had a meeting at the same time.” These thoughts occupied my brain so often, I needed to find a solution — and so I ran. I stepped out, I took a break, I ran miles. Never in my wildest dream would I picture myself running the NYC Marathon, but after this year, I just want to run - I want to run for all those who are too at home, stuck in their thoughts and I want to show them — you can too be free.
It is a true honor to run on behalf of Team AFSP, but it is a greater honor to run and represent all those are battling a mental illness and those who we have lost their life to a mental illness. One step a time, together, we are changing the world. Let’s talk, let’s break the stigma and let’s RUN.
Since we lost my dad on April 23rd, 2010, I have always associated the number 23 with this loss. For this reason, I want to face this fear, this connotation head-on, It is my goal to raise $4,230.
After all, P.S. I Love You Day is all about finding resilience in the darkness.
If there is someone you’d like to donate in memory of, please email p.s.iloveyouday@gmail.com in the case that you cannot comment below. It is crucial to say the name of those we lost, I hope to honor their memory - I am thankful for all those angels who will be running with me on this day. Thank you in advance for your kind donation and motivation.
P.S. I Love You.
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