This year, I am honored to be supporting Team Rally for Sarc as I represent the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) at the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon on November 2, 2025!
I am running this marathon in support of my dad, who is living with cardiac sarcoidosis. Running was something he loved before his diagnosis, and while he can no longer participate in marathons himself, I am proud to run in his place - to honor him, raise awareness, and support others impacted by this disease.
Almost a year after his diagnosis, I signed up for the Bethlehem Half Marathon while at Lehigh University. Even though he couldn't run beside me, my dad showed up in the way he always has - driving to campus to help me train after class, cheering me on every step, and meeting me at the finish line, cowbells in hand. That day meant the world to me, and those memories continue to inspire me as I prepare for New York.
Sarcoidosis has severely impacted my dad's heart, causing congestive heart failure and leaving him with a very low ejection fraction. Despite these challenges, he continues to fight with strength, optimism, and love. Running through the streets of New York this November will be for both of us, and I cannot wait to make him proud.
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that causes the immune system to overreact, leading to clusters of inflamed tissue called granulomas. These can form in any organ, but when they affect the heart, as in my dad's case, the effects can be life-threatening.
FSR is the leading international organization dedicated to finding a cure for sarcoidosis and improving care for sarcoidosis patients through research, education, and support. Since its establishment in 2000, FSR has fostered over $8 million in sarcoidosis-specific research efforts.
Sarcoidosis impacts approximately 1.2 million people worldwide and 200,000 in the U.S. Currently, there is no known cause and limited treatment options, which makes funding for research and patient support all the more critical.
I hope you will consider supporting Team Rally for Sarc this year by making a financial contribution to my page as I seek to support FSR and all those impacted by sarcoidosis. Your donation, of any amount, will not only help Team Rally for Sarc achieve their goals, but will help make more patient support, and one day, a cure for sarcoidosis possible.
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