Welcome to my fundraising page, and thank you for your support as I tackle
the 2025 New York City Marathon and a personal fundraising goal of $5,000!
God willing, I will be running the NYC Marathon for the first time this November as a charity runner for The American Heart Association's Team Heart & Stroke. The team has selected just 45 participants to run the marathon, and I was lucky enough to receive one of those spots! If I am able to meet my fundraising goal, I'll join 50,000 other runners as they race through the streets of New York City for the world's greatest marathon. While I've run two marathons previously, this one will be extremely special, as I will be running the race in memory of my father, Dr. Michael Patrick Shepherd.
If you know and love me, then you likely know that my father passed away this past October from cardiac and kidney complictations resulting from a years-long battle with Congesive Heart Failure. Nearly six months later, my family and I are all still coming to terms with the loss, each of us finding our own ways to work through our grief. My primary means of doing so has been running.
My dad was not a runner; quadruple bypass surgery at 40 and a life spent fighitng diabetes, gout, and high blood pressure meant he spent most of his free time resting. He never got to experience the thrill, grind, and joy of running a marathon. When given the opportunity to choose a charity to run for, the only option for me was the American Heart Association. I can think of nothing more healing than tackling such a large goal - such a large dream - in honor of my dad.
My dad's life was cut too short becasue of heart disease, and my hope is that the funds I raise can help fuel necessary research and education on heart health for individauals and families.
In order to run, I have to meet my $5,000 fundraising goal ahead of November. I've got a long road ahead of me, and lots of work to do, but I'm hopeful my community will show up to support me and honor my father's memory in this pursuit.
For those who would like to make a donation, thank you! There are many ways to support this goal, and any donation of any amount is meaningful. Some ways to help --
1. Make a gift in the amount of your choosing. Donate the cost of your date night for the month, your coffee for the week - whatever feels right to you!
2. Sponsor a mile. Spoiler alert: there are 26 of them! If I'm able to generate a $100 sponsorship for every mile I have to run, I'm halfway to my goal!
3. Share this page and help me spread the word. Know someone who'd like to honor my father or support my cause? Please share this page with them! Every share helps.
About the Race:
As one of the largest and most electrifying marathons in the world, with 50,000 particpants and hundreds of thousands more people cheering them on from the sidelines, there is simply nothing like The New York City Mararthon. For several years now, I've cheered runners on and dreamed of running it myself. After my father passed, my first social outing was to watch the Marathon in 2024. It brought me so much hope to see thousands of people loving life and acheiving their dreams that day. Running the race this year will be nothing short of full circle, and a beautiful way to honor the life of my dad. Thank you for your support!
