I’m running this marathon for my friend Frederik de Nassau, who passed away last year, and for the POLG Foundation he helped build.

Frederik and I saw each other every summer in Maine, bonded over a love of good food and a shared sense of humor. After my wedding, when he was already too sick to travel, my wife and I went to Paris, and Frederik planned us the single best eating day of all time. He took us to his favorite sushi spot and, even while he was fighting, put on the best face and lit up sharing the things he loved most with the people he cared about. That was Frederik.

He lived with POLG, a rare genetic mitochondrial disease, and he faced it like a true warrior. He was one of the strongest people I’ve ever known, and rather than let the disease define him, he poured that strength into building something to help others fighting the same battle.

So on race day I’m going to put a Frederik effort together and leave everything out there. The POLG Foundation funds the research that families are still waiting on, and every mile is for him and for them. Thank you for supporting POLG, and for carrying Frederik’s fight forward with me.

Thank you!!