I’ve never had a desire to run a marathon. I’ve never considered myself a runner. But in 2015, my good friend Diana convinced me to sign up for the Honolulu Marathon. She had just finished it for the first time and I saw how proud and accomplished she felt. I wanted that same feeling. I told myself: “Ok, let’s just do one to say I’ve done one. And that’ll be it. One and done.”
I completed my first marathon in 8 hours and 21 minutes. I felt invincible.
Seven years later and I’m now chasing my 7th marathon medal – and for the first time, in New York City! I’m beyond excited and incredibly grateful to be running as part of the first-ever Team AAJA at the 2022 TCS NYC Marathon this fall and in a place that’s become a second home to me.
The mission of the Asian American Journalists Association, of advancing diversity in newsrooms and ensuring fair and accurate coverage of communities of color, aligns with everything I believe in. AAJA helped provide me with my first journalism internship at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in college, it helped send me to the national convention in Atlanta in 2019, it inspired me to lead an Asian American employee resource group here at Newsday and above all, it introduced me to so many new, talented friends and gave me a sense of belonging.
All of the funds raised will go directly toward AAJA’s New York and Hawaii chapters. It will be used to sponsor high school journalism contests, create scholarships and provide other career development opportunities for minority journalists.
I’m grateful for your support in helping me cross the finish line of raising $5,000 for AAJA and accomplishing my larger goal of empowering other journalists of color to feel confident and invincible too.
Mahalo,
Kim
