Hi, my name is Matt Castelli, and I am running the 2026 TCS NYC Marathon with Team Heart & Stroke to support the American Heart Association.
When I was 17, I decided to run my first half marathon to prepare for my senior wrestling season. I had spent years working toward that season, and I was ranked near the top in the state, so I wanted to do everything I could to be at my best. But during that race, I collapsed, leading to the diagnosis of an extremely rare heart condition. What I thought was just part of pushing myself turned into months of uncertainty, testing, and the fear that I might not be able to return to the life I had worked so hard for.
At first, I was frustrated and angry. After everything I had put into wrestling, I thought I might lose my final season. It felt unfair. But that mindset changed completely when I went to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for further testing.
Walking through the pediatric unit is something I will never forget. I remember seeing patients being kept alive by machines, then hearing kids crying and seeing parents exhausted and overwhelmed. In that moment, everything shifted. I realized how fortunate I was. I had been worried about missing a season, while so many others were facing much bigger battles.
Fortunately, after my MRI at CHOP, I was able to finish my senior wrestling season because of my amazing doctors and the research that made my diagnosis and recovery possible. However, there are still so many people and families who are in that fight every day, facing heart-related issues and uncertainty.
Since then, I have completed three more half marathons and a full marathon, something I no longer take for granted. Every time I run, it serves as a reminder of how fortunate I am and how easily things could have been different. That is why I am running this marathon. It is an opportunity to give back and support the research, care, and education that save lives and give people like myself a second chance. Any support truly makes a difference, and I am incredibly grateful for everyone who chooses to be a part of this!
