NF Endurance team races NYC Half Marathon and raises over $85K for NF research!

On March 19, 2017, 43 athletes gathered in New York City for the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon. The team raised over $85,000 for NF research!

The event weekend was also the first-ever NF Endurance Alumni Reunion Weekend. To kick everything off, CTF staff and volunteers hosted team members at the NY office on Saturday morning for the Team Shake Out Run and Bagel Breakfast. “I loved the team practice run on Saturday. It helped me get stretched and gave me confidence!” said Natalie Rockefeller (photo right, with Laura Nick and Lesley Oslica).

The carb-loading and mental preparation continued at the Inspiration Dinner Saturday evening before the race. Team members, NFE alumni, CTF staff and Board members gathered for a pasta dinner and some team camaraderie, as well as words of motivation from Steve Kendra, NF Dad and former NF Endurance program director, Katherine Kim Bloom, NF Endurance alumna, and the 2017 Children’s Tumor Foundation Ambassador Sarah Rodbell. (Photo left: Kristina Rath, Emily Crabtree and Annette Bakker, President and Chief Scientific Offer, Children’s Tumor Foundation; photo right: Anne Trussell and CTF Board Member Ken Rudd)

Early Sunday morning the team headed up to Central Park to start their 13.1 mile tour through mid- and downtown Manhattan. (Photo left: members of the team gather in the hotel before heading to the start line; photo right: members of the team head to their corral)

Less than one year after becoming paralyzed by Guillain-Barré syndrome, NF Mom Diane Owens (photo below, left) completed this iconic race. “It was less than a year ago that I laid in a hospital bed for two months quadriplegic. I didn’t give up on running for my son then and I’m not about to give up now. I am dedicating this year’s races to help the Children’s Tumor Foundation #ENDNF in honor of my 4-year old son, Alex.”

Through the NF Endurance Adpot-a-Hero program, Isabella Goetze (photo below, right), first time half-marathoner and new to the CTF team, was paired up with Diane’s son, Alex, and ran in his honor.

A congratulations also goes out to one of our board members, Tracy Galloway, for completing her first ever half marathon!

Runners Anne Trussell and Jane Hambuchen took a breath and waved to the crowd!

After everyone crossed the finish line, runners, friends and family gathered for the Team Post-Race Celebration & Reunion! (Photo left: Carolanne Owenby and Tara Rogers; photo right: Olivia Sederlund and Angela Dumadag)