Hello!!!!

Growing up, my weekend mornings were spent cooking pancakes with my brother and sister, waiting for our parents to get home from their marathon and Ironman training. Race competitions have been in the family for quite some time. When my parents would return from hours of training, we would sit down and eat those pancakes together as a family. Those were some of our happiest, simplest moments.

My dad is one of my greatest mentors, in fact, I would argue he is my greatest mentor. He is always instilled a love for the game, not just in sports, but in everything he does. He has love and passion. He is taught me discipline, confidence, full effort, and love. He is truly the best father.

In February of 2023, that loving, hard-working father of mine had a stroke. I never liked the word stroke, it?s always sounded pretty negative, if you ask me, but after that day, I hate it. A stroke strips away the everyday things we take for granted, speech, strength, movement, and independence, often in the blink of an eye. I wish I could say that two years later, life is back to normal, but unfortunately, it?s not.

I want to raise awareness for strokes. I want better cures and prevention. And I want to believe the future holds something greater, not just for stroke awareness, but for all cardiovascular disease.

For my father, a finisher of countless marathons and an Ironman completer, what better way to honor your survival than to do what you loved most: race. I hope I make you proud, it?s what I live for. I love you more than you will ever know dad.

Please help make Strides against Strokes! Any donations, reposts, or just awareness help! I cannot wait to cross the finish line of the NY Full Marathon on November 2, 2025! 

Make it a great day!

Caterina Palermo