I owe a whole lot of my sanity from the last three years to running. And I owe a whole lot more to the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA). 

Last year, while traversing the country to cover the 2024 election for Bloomberg News I tried to fit a run in every community I visited: from rural North Carolina to the Las Vegas Strip. And in one spontaneous weekend, a half marathon around Des Moines, Iowa.

I'm running the NYC Marathon to ensure that AAJA, which has given me and countless other journalists of color the resources to succeed, can continue to support generations of journalists to come.

All of the funds raised will go directly toward the organization and the DC chapter. It will be used to sponsor student programming and scholarships as well as provide resources for career development. 

For those of you that don't know much about the organization, AAJA has been at the forefront of change in the journalism industry, working towards the visibility and inclusion of AAPI journalists in the newsroom and in newsroom leadership.

The organization gave me my first internship at the Pasadena Star News where I covered AAPI communities in San Gabriel Valley and connected me to mentors (and now colleagues) at the White House Correspondents Association as a scholar in 2021. It has introduced me to many lifelong friends and has built an enduring community in cities across the world.

I am but one of many young journalists that this organization has helped bring into the industry and I hope you can join me in ensuring AAJA can continue to do this for years to come. 

Thank you to those who have donated already including: mom & dad, Natalie L, Kylen Z and family, Jack L, Eric L, Qing Yu C, Hadriana L, Mei Mei G, Andrew P, Randy S, Amy N, Jacqueline C, Jennifer J, Irie S, Hasani S, Michelle S, Milan M, Jas G, Nick R, Henry H, Soul P, Hannah P, Zach S, Kris H, Jake S, Jacob P, Kori S, Aleena F, Ashleigh G, Minji K, Nik M, Claire T, Kathy F, Daniel Z, Alicia T, Sofia P, Josef C, Andrew Z, Celine T, Bruno R, Toni G, Raph C, Gwyn L, Justin J, Esther S, Sam C, Kate S, Natalie W, Kris R, Alvaro P, Jackie S, Ashley A, Simon L, Julie T, Carly O, Annie M, Maddie N, Griffin J, Hanna K, Angelica L, Ryan S, Michael G, Sammy F, Juliette V, Kristal B, Tanmay S, Maya M, Ruth L, Elizabeth W, Joy W, Adelle G, Akayla G, Jess S, Skylar W, Andrea H, Enda C, Jeffrey L, Tim B, Catherine SP, Soorin K, Michael F, Jason K, Riley A, Steven L, Amesh S, Michael C, Kate S, Sejal G, Kanav K, Matt K, Rosanna X, Brock W and Bloomberg LP.