This Sunday, March 19th, I will be running the NYC Half Marathon - something I’ve wanted to do for myself for a very long time.
Those who know me know I am a very lucky person and, in classic fashion, I ended up being selected for the Half through the Draw. All this means is that I do not have to run for an organization or be sponsored, I just have to show up and run.
However, after some thought and inspiration, I have decided to run in memory of my grandfather, Albert Segal, and for the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.
For those who do or don’t know, my grandfather passed away this past October due to complications resulting from Alzheimer’s/dementia. However, he is the last person to be defined by this disease. My grandfather was defined by his infectious and hearty laugh, his inability to stop singing once he started, his incredible stories-turned-life lessons, and most importantly, the endless amount of love he had for us. I was and still am so incredibly lucky to have had him in my life and to have received even a portion of his love.
I distinctly remember my grandfather lecturing me one day down in Boynton Beach, Florida on the importance of your health. He said, “at the end of the day, all you have is you and your body. Stay strong, eat well, exercise and most of all, be happy and love yourself, and nobody will ever conquer that.” While I began training for the half as a personal goal, there is no better reason to run this weekend than for my grandfather.
This brings me to the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. I had the privilege to attend one of their charity events this past year with my best friend/roommate, Emily Lane, who has a family member on the board. Their objectives and goals really resonated with me, as my grandfather had been dealing with the disease for quite some time, and I am thrilled to be able to finally give back to them in some way. The ADDF raises money to fund preclinical drug discoveries and clinical trials of drugs used to detect Alzheimer's at early stages in life. Due to the high risk associated with this disease and the attempt to 'cure' it, many federal agencies and pharmaceutical giants refuse to provide funding. This is where ADDF provides relief - by financially supporting these projects, the ADDF inspires scientists to pioneer ideas that otherwise would go unexplored.
With that being said, if you would like to support me on my run, please consider donating to help me fundraise. I am looking to raise $1,000 by the end of the week, all of which will be donated to ADDF in memory of my grandfather, Albert Segal.
In the words of my grandfather in a letter to me before he passed, “I have never been closer to heaven than when you are in my arms.” I hope you feel close to me this weekend Grandpa Al, I’ll be thinking of you every step of those 13.1 miles :)
