Hi everyone! I'm so excited and honored to be running the 2026 NYC Marathon with Team Heart & Stroke! For those of you who don't know, I worked at the American Heart Association for three years right out of college. Working at this organization was truly one of the most amazing experiences because every day I got to see firsthand how powerful and effective the AHA's work is. When I worked in development & fundraising, I met the most wonderful volunteers and survivors who dedicated their time and stories to bring awareness to the AHA's mission. Then I transitioned to working in grants and met daily with AHA community impact teams across the country, who were carrying out the AHA's goals in their local neighborhoods - distributing CPR kits to schools, blood pressure cuffs to barber shops and libraries, and refrigeration units to food pantries. Everyone that I met and worked with during my time at the AHA truly embodied the mission of being a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, aiming to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere.

I've also had heart disease affect my family. When I was 12 years old, my pop-pop underwent a quintuple bypass surgery that helped him live another 11 years. One of my uncles also underwent open heart surgery 17 years ago and is still thriving, while unfortunately, another uncle passed away from congestive heart failure in 2022. And most recently, my aunt suffered from a stroke in 2024 and has been able to recover since. Cardiovascular disease affects almost everyone in some way. It remains the leading cause of death and the most prevalent disease. Without the crucial work and research that the AHA does, we wouldn't have the medicine, equipment, and techniques that have helped millions of people survive when faced with heart disease.

I am so grateful for any donations to help me reach my goal and, most importantly, to support the American Heart Association's incredible work.