On Sunday, March 15, 2020, I will be running the NYC Half Marathon in honor of my mother, Kathleen S. Stolar, who passed away from ALS on March 2, 2017.

My mother was a truly phenomenal woman. She was the proud matriarch of our family, a single parent whose resourcefulness and resilience often seemed boundless in the face of adversity. She was a mother who not only loved her children, but also genuinely enjoyed spending time with them. And she was, at her core, a good person, someone who emphasized the importance of being kind, leading by example, and living with integrity.

Shortly after she was diagnosed, my mother watched a webinar on the progress of ALS research, hoping that there would soon be a treatment available that could significantly extend her life. I remember her breaking down in tears after the webinar ended, crushed by the realization that she would not live long enough to benefit from any of the research projects being discussed.

I’m running to raise money for ALS TDI so that one day patients with ALS will be able to watch those same webinars but come to the opposite conclusion: that there are effective treatments available to stop the disease. I’m running to remember my mom, especially her loving spirit, everlasting courage, and formidable strength. I’m running to ensure that, through your contributions, she will never be forgotten.