ING NYC Marathon Race Report

More than 65 NF Endurance runners tackled five boroughs on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, wearing neon for the 40th running of the NYC Marathon. Collectively our runners have raised $166,911 and they aren’t done! (Visit the team site to read more about their efforts). A special thank you to Matt Garvic and John McCarthy for leading the team as captains. Our race day coaching crew included Steve Kendra, Kim Norman, Chad Leathers, Tracy Draper, Malcolm McDonald and Emily Brown. Check out our team photos on our Facebook fan page.

Vincent “Vinny” Squillace, a student at Boston University, shared a powerful experience he had on the course. Around mile 8 in Brooklyn, a woman came up to him while he was running. She said, “Oh my God, I want a picture. My son has NF!” Vinny shared with her about the Foundation’s mission — to find a cure for NF through research and why he was running. “You are what the world needs,” she said to Vinny. Vinny shared that with the Endurance team because it applies to all of us. “We are what the world needs,” said Vinny. “I am so proud of how far we’ve come.”

It was Peter Orlando’s first marathon. “The pasta party set me up for success,” said Peter. “I am so thankful for the NF Endurance team to allow me the chance to run for such a great cause. Thank you to everyone that was cheering me on the sidelines; that is really what gave me the push to the end. Whoever was at the last 400m really gave me an adrenaline rush. This was an unforgettable weekend and I’m already planning my next marathon.”

But, perhaps Hugh McLoughlin says it best: “My body aches, no, hurts, but my heart beats strong from the incredible amount of money raised to help solve the puzzle.”