Running has always been part of my life. It's a democratic sport available to anyone. Running creates a calming rhythm, makes you aware of the gift of your body and its potential; and for me, is a sport where I compete against myself rather than other people. As a child I ran through the impoverished neighborhoods of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and I now run through the streets and trails of Stoneham, Massachusetts. 

In the hospitality industry, as I attended conferences around the world, I found a global community of runners and 18 years ago started participating in marathons around the world: France, Italy, Canada etc.  No matter what the challenges were in my personal or professional life, I always found time for running and running always helped me find inner peace. Prior to the pandemic, I was training for my first Ironman Triathlon race.  As COVID-19 made itself known in MA, I took the necessary precautions to protect myself, my staff, and my family. But it wasn't enough. In mid February I was literally felled by the illness, unable to even walk to the bathroom. Thanks to many people's prayers and unbelievable support, I survived.  It took many weeks of slow walks around my neighborhood before I could comfortably run my first mile.  Going through COVID was an experience like no other; I am very aware of how close I came to death. When I was well on the path to recovery, even my doctor admitted he thought I wasn't going to make it. 

Gratitude has always been part of how I navigate life, but now I'm more aware than ever before of how random luck can be. My doctor hypothesized that running may have saved my life, as through the years of training, it helped me develop stronger lungs than most. We can't ever fully know why the hand of fate spares some and not others.  Nowadays I appreciate running so much more, with every step feeling a greater sense of the gift of my health. 

And so I run this marathon on behalf of the well-being of others, fundraising for the Melanoma Education Foundation. I chose to support the Melanoma Education Foundation because it has a track record of saving lives from melanoma for over 20 years and has been an official NYRR Charity Partner for over 10 years.  At last count over 1700 high schools and middle schools in all 50 states were using their free online lessons and videos. Lives of students, teachers, and their family members have been saved because of the lessons and videos. Their website for the general public is at < https://www.skincheck.org >.  Thank you for your support!