Hi, y'all! What a year it's been! For those who know me, you know that I started my running journey in 2010 as a means to lose weight, get healthy, and stay healthy. I lost 55lbs in becoming a "marathon maniac," running close to 30 marathons & ultras until 2017. Nagging injuries sidelined me and I found myself steadily gaining weight again.

Then in March 2020, I contracted the coronavirus. I was hospitalized at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens at covid's peak in NYC. It was only through the amazing care of frontline health care workers that I survived. It's been a slow-and-steady recovery for this "long-hauler," but one year later, I am now cleared to run and train again.

Running and "running for da kiddos" has been a transformative journey for me. It has allowed me to give back while doing what I love to do, much like my career as a public school special education teacher. Thank you to all those who have supported me over the years, in spirit and monetarily in my previous campaigns for Team for Kids, CAAAV, and the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center.

We've all been affected by the coronavirus. Now, more than ever, it's imperative to support orgs like the Big Shoulders Fund, who coincidentally, have helped families in my own grammar school alma mater, St. Helen.

If you can, please support this fundraising campaign and help me and others keep moving forward--onwards ever, backwards never.

With love,

Marlon