On November 2nd, 2025, my longtime dream of running the 26.2-mile NYC Marathon is finally becoming a reality! More importantly, I'm running this incredible race with a powerful purpose: to raise vital funds and awareness for the JDJ Charitable Foundation and the communities they support.

For years, I've stood on the sidelines of the NYC Marathon, cheering on the incredible runners. After living near 1st Avenue for a majority of my time in the city, that stretch is always electric - one of the most inspiring moments on one of the most inspiring days of the year in New York City. Cheering on friends and strangers, witnessing their grit and determination, has always filled me with awe and fueled a personal dream: to one day be one of those runners making the 26.2-mile journey through the five boroughs.

Having completed 5 half marathons, tackling the full 26.2 miles of NYC has always felt like the ultimate challenge and goal. For me, running isn't just about finishing with a fast time; it's about the resilience, the mental fortitude, and the sheer power of putting one foot in front of the other, especially when it feels impossible. It's a test of spirit as much as physical endurance.

This year, on November 2nd, 2025, that dream is finally becoming a reality, and it's fueled by a purpose far bigger than myself. I'm incredibly proud and humbled to be running the NYC Marathon as a fundraiser for the JDJ Charitable Foundation.

JDJ does truly remarkable and impactful work supporting communities often facing immense challenges. They are dedicated to providing vital assistance to both cancer research and support initiatives, funding a crucial scholarship for deserving students, and making a direct, life-changing difference by donating power and adaptive pediatric wheelchairs. In fact, they have already donated 52 of these essential wheelchairs to children who desperately need them, providing mobility, independence, and a brighter future.

My journey to the starting line on Staten Island will involve months of dedicated training, early mornings, and pushing through tired legs – a journey that mirrors, in a small way, the resilience I admire so much in the individuals and families that JDJ supports.

Every single dollar you donate will directly contribute to JDJ's incredible efforts – whether it's helping fund life-saving cancer research, supporting a student's education through a scholarship, or helping provide another child with the gift of mobility through a power wheelchair. Your support makes their vital work possible.

This run is my way of contributing to a cause I deeply believe in, and I would be so grateful if you would consider supporting my fundraising efforts for JDJ.

Thank you so much for reading my story, for your belief in me, and for any support you are able to offer. It means the world to me, the JDJ Charitable Foundation, and the families whose lives they touch.