I am beyond excited to be running the 2026 NYC Marathon with Team Heart & Stroke. As you may know, this organization has made a profound impact on my life and I am honored to play a small part in supporting the lifesaving research the AHA does everyday.

In the winter of 2016, my father Mark Pitzele, life changed forever. My dad was a perfectly healthy 49 year old man, even ran the NYC Marathon over 20 years ago.  After testing, we learned that a vicious virus attacked his heart, which led to a Stage 4 Heart Failure diagnosis. We were in complete shock, but the team at Abbott Northwestern Hospital worked quickly to provide my dad the care he needed, beginning with equipping him with an LVAD device. After multiple LVAD replacement surgeries and what felt like a supernatural act, my dad received a new heart in June of 2017.

Through the work and research done by the AHA, my dad has been able to resume a sense of normalcy we could only dream of in 2016. He has lobbied on Capitol Hill, participated in the Twin Cities Heart Walk, and helped so many others through their struggle with heart disease.

Please join me in reaching my goal of raising $20,000 to help other's like my dad live long and healthy lives. See you all on the course!