I'm running the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon — 26.2 miles through all five boroughs — to support the Cardiac Wellness Program at Montefiore Hospital.

This cause is near and dear to my heart, and I mean that literally.

Nine years ago, I made a decision that changed my life: I went fully plant-based. Since then, I've lost 85 pounds, reversed the risk factors that had been creeping up on me, and discovered energy I didn't know I had. At 52, I feel better than I did at 32 — stronger, clearer, more alive.

That transformation is exactly what the Cardiac Wellness Program at Montefiore gives to patients every day. This small but extraordinary program helps people take back their heart health through education, lifestyle support, and compassionate care. It doesn't make headlines — but it saves lives.

Running 26.2 miles is hard. But it's nothing compared to what a cardiac patient faces. Your donation — any amount — goes directly to a program that is changing and saving lives in our community.

I'll be training every day until race day in November 2026. I'd love for you to be part of this journey with me.

Will you run with me — even from the sidelines?

The Montefiore Einstein Cardiac Wellness Program and Cardiac Wellness Conference bring a unique, nutrition-centered approach to cardiovascular disease management by attempting to prevent and reverse heart disease with dietary change. Created and directed by Robert Ostfeld, MD, MSc, and in partnership with Lauren Graf, MS, RD, the programs nutritionist, the Cardiac Wellness Program aims to prevent and reverse heart disease with a whole-food/plant-based diet.