I started running in high school when a favorite teacher coaxed me into showing up to his cross-country practice, and I was immediately hooked. It became a mental outlet and passion as I continued running into my early twenties. Soon after completing my first half-marathon in 2014, I had to stop running as the scoliosis I suffered from since I was a child had gotten severely worse, and the pain was unbearable. In 2019, I finally decided to face my fear of surgery and met with an orthopedic spine surgeon who told me that I could do everything post-surgery but run a marathon. Knowing that surgery was my only option and running a full marathon had been a dream of mine, I was determined to go through with it and defy the odds. After months of postponing surgery due to the pandemic, on July 8, 2020, I got the go-ahead. Ten hours, 26 screws, and 2 rods later, I became a bionic woman. It has been a year-long recovery, but I am back to running and on a mission to complete my very first New York City Marathon on November 7.

I’m running on behalf of BRC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals reclaim their lives from homelessness, mental illness, and addiction. I am incredibly grateful for the chance to run again, let alone run a full marathon, and I will be dedicating every step to those in need who seek a second chance at life. Please join me in supporting the more than 3,000 vulnerable New Yorkers that BRC serves each day, as I run to help create a path from homelessness to home. Learn more about BRC and the people they serve at www.BRC.org.