We’ve all felt left out before.

Maybe it’s being picked last for kickball or not being able to find clothes that fit. Maybe it’s seeing that all your friends are hanging out without you or just being the one person who looks different from everyone else.

For me, it’s always been running. In elementary school they called me slowpoke Sam… and it stuck. Since the age of 8, I’ve had this belief that I could never be a runner.

Fast forward to late last year when my cousin Courtney asked me to volunteer at the Special Olympics. She’s a Special Education teacher, a Special Olympics coach, and the one person I know who truly believes that anyone can do anything. That day, I witnessed hundreds of children and adults with intellectual disabilities participate in sports that, without the Special Olympics, they likely would be excluded from. I witnessed first-hand the magic of the Special Olympics; focusing on what athletes can do, not what they can’t.

So why was I focusing on what I couldn’t do? Why not just run? That’s when I signed up to run the New York City Marathon to raise money for this very cause.

Time and time again these athletes remind me that it’s not about what someone else says you’re capable of, it’s about doing what you can. So maybe I run the whole thing or maybe I’ll walk some, but in the end, I’ll do what I can so these athletes can do the same. And, with your help, we'll raise $4,000 for the Special Olympics by October 23, 2025. 

With your support and the inspiration of these athletes, we can positively impact our communities and use the transformative power of sports to instill confidence, improve health, and inspire a sense of competition. 

Will you please donate today?