If you're looking for an almost 28-year-old with a sub 10-minute mile, it is not me (at least not yet - we'll see where training gets us). If you're looking for a seasoned runner that will for sure be on the news/media for an exceptional race and finishing spot, it will not be me. If you are looking for a fun, driven and loyal team player, it is me. I am beyond passionate, fiercely loyal and am yet to meet a challenge I did not want to push myself to accomplish. The NYC marathon is my next challenge and I am determined to run for a cause that means something to me and a charity I believe in. When I was 5, on a family trip to Maine, my dad started having symptoms. Just months after a quadrouple bypass, he was back at the hospital fighting an ischemic stroke. The Daddy's girl that I was, I watched my idol fight his way back to normalcy - the first time in life I really learned to never give up. Although my dad was lucky to have minimal long term impact from the stroke, he was not able to get his balance back as it was before which served as a constant reminder of how scary a stroke can be. 

I grew up surrounded by cancer - my mom was an oncology nurse and my dad battled cancer for 12 years. When I first thought of running the marathon for charity my mind immediately went to cancer. But, I have done so much for cancer already – I have participated in 23 Relay for Life from the American Cancer Society including my junior year of college which I created a team for "everyone who didn't have a team" that fundraised over $9,000. If you were to ask me what my superpower is, I would tell you it is how fast my hair grows. I know I cannot cure cancer, but I can certainly donate my hair every year and a half to make a small difference for someone somewhere. Cancer has been a huge part of my life for so long but I want to make a difference for more people.

I want to put my heart and soul into being that try-hard fundraiser with a new idea everyday and a new mileage goal to crush each week. I want to work hard at something that is out of my wheelhouse. Last year, just shy of my 4 year anniversary with LabCorp, I was one of 60 people from 75,500 global employees given an award for my “inspiration to the team and driving excellence, dedication, and unrelenting pursuit of excellence.” I want take that work ethic out of the office to challenge myself mentally and physically, but do it in a way that benefits others. I want to achieve this goal for myself while thinking of my dad and how he fought to continue to be after his stroke, instead of thinking of the cancer that took him. To think of the number of people that could be impacted by 8 months of hard work training and fundraising is truly remarkable.

I want to run for Tedy’s Team to run with a group of people who will challenge me but also believe in the same cause. Everyone keeps asking why I want to run NYC instead of Boston, but running for Tedy’s Team is bringing my whole life growing up in MA with me. I live just outside Boston and constantly am reminded how lucky I am to be there. There is a relentless spirit of Boston just as there a fire in me. I may just be one woman, but I am like a dog with a bone on anything I set my mind too.

I have set a fundraising goal of $7,000 and appreciate any support you are willing to give to help get me there! My legs and I are in it for the long haul!

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The mission of Tedy's Team is to raise awareness for stroke and heart disease while supporting survivors on their journey, giving them a means for a comeback!

Tedy's Team was originally founded in 2005, when Tedy Bruschi, former linebacker for the New England Patriots suffered a stroke shortly after winning his 3rd Super Bowl and just days after returning from his first Pro Bowl. to learn more about who we are, please see our website, www.tedysteam.org.

We are honored to be part of the Official Charity Program of the TCS NYC Marathon for 2023.

New York Road Runners has allowed us to utilize their platform to elevate the awareness of the warning signs of stroke, which are best remembered by using the acronym BE FAST, which stands for: 

• Balance Difficulties
• Eyesight Changes
• Face Drooping
• Arm Weakness
• Speech Difficulties - and if you notice any of those warning signs, it's...
• TIME TO CALL 9-1-1.

Should you ever have any questions about your donation, please reach out to Elizabeth@TedysTeam.org.

Donations to Tedy's Team are non-refundable and fully tax deductible.