I'm running my first marathon with the Bronx Burners' 2026 NYC Marathon team! Yes, all 26.2 miles through the greatest city on earth.

If you'd told me a few years ago I'd be doing this, I'd have run away (pun intended). Running has never come easy to me, but over many years and miles, it started to change how I handle hard days and what I think I'm capable of. When I found the Bronx Burners, I knew this was the team I wanted to cross my first finish line with.

The Bronx Burners are more than a run club. Built around the motto "opportunity through community," they raise scholarships for Bronx student athletes -- funding tuition, running camps, gear, and academic support for kids who don't always get a shot at any of it. Every dollar I raise goes directly to them.

My Grandma was born and raised in the Bronx -- sharp-witted, fiercely curious, and a bigger believer in education above just about anything else. She'd have had a lot of opinions about me running 26 miles for fun, but she would have loved that this money goes to Bronx kids' tuition and futures. This one's for her too.

If you'd like to chip in (please):

• Donate any amount -- nothing is too small, and many employers will match (worth a 30-second check!).
• Share this page with anyone who might care. The wider it travels, the more these kids get.

Thank you for being part of this with me :)