Getting my name drawn in the TCS New York City Marathon lottery was a huge surprise; I knew the odds of success were very small, so I went in with tempered expectations. When I found out I got in, I was extremely excited. I see running this marathon as an unique opportunity that I’m incredibly fortunate to have.

Soon after receiving my acceptance, I started to think about how I could make this marathon the most meaningful experience possible. I knew the marathon has many charity partners, and I was excited to see that the Parkinson’s Foundation was among them. The Parkinson’s Foundation supports those touched by Parkinson’s disease by providing resources and making efforts towards finding a cure. This mission is one that resonates strongly with me, as my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease around 10 years ago. He fought the disease admirably despite facing significant challenges that compounded with time. It’s with a heavy heart that I share that my dad passed away on April 27th of this year due to complications related to Parkinson’s disease.

Losing my dad is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through. In light of that, I feel the best thing I can do is try to give a little something back to others who have been touched by this disease. Fundraising is something I’ve never done before and, I’ll admit, is a little outside of my comfort zone. However, my desire to give back to a foundation that’s as impactful as the Parkinson’s Foundation made my decision to do this an easy one.

I understand that not everyone may be in a position to donate to my fundraising effort, and that's okay. For those that are, just know that I deeply appreciate it, and every bit helps.