Ava Paul
Event: TCS New York City Marathon
Date: November 1, 2026
Fred’s Team Participant for: This is my first year
Goal: $8,000
Total Raised: $6,880
Running 26.2 for My Mom
I’m super excited to share that I’ll be running the 2026 TCS NYC Marathon with Fred’s Team!
I’m dedicating this race to my mom. In February 2020, my mom was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer. Two years later, she was diagnosed with colon cancer, which eventually metastasized. Over the last six years, she has undergone six surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, yet she remains stronger than ever.
The remarkable thing about my mom is that she has never been defined by her health challenges. She selflessly carries on, taking things day by day, and continues to show up as a mother of 3, wife, sister, aunt, daughter, and friend.
What started six years ago as a deeply terrifying and frustrating experience has evolved into a passion for cancer advocacy and research. As I adjusted to this new reality and learned more about cancer, I found comfort in knowing that although my mom’s journey often felt incredibly singular and isolating, my family was not alone in this fight. I came to appreciate that millions of patients and families around the world face similar hardships. That realization inspired me to become more involved in helping shape the future of cancer care and research. It also led me to pursue a career in clinical research, where I have seen firsthand how new treatments can improve and extend patients’ lives.
An important part of her story is that both cancers were discovered through routine screening despite her having no symptoms. She had no family history of cancer and tested negative for known inherited cancer-related genetic mutations. Her experience is a powerful reminder that cancer can affect anyone and underscores the importance of keeping up with recommended screenings, even when you feel completely healthy.
Although this marathon will immensely challenge me, my “why” for running with Fred’s Team makes every mile worth it. MSK has been a cornerstone for my mom and our family throughout her cancer journey, consistently providing exceptional care and support. I’m running this race to honor my mom, support everyone affected by cancer, and to raise money for MSK cancer research so that we can move closer to a world without cancer.
Any donation, no matter the size, would be greatly appreciated. Every dollar raised supports the groundbreaking research taking place at MSK. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support. Go Fred’s Team, and Go New York Go!
$8,000
Goal
Goal
$6,880
Total Raised
Donors
Susanne and Martin Hennecke
$500
Fred Paul
$500
Tina and James
$500
Susan and Kevin Petrovcik
$250
Anonymous
$250
Judith und Peter Rosenkranz
$250
The Assalone Family
$250
Ann Marie Petrovcik
$250
Winona Whelan
$200
The Sumas Family
$150
Ava Paul
$125
Ann Marie Aguilar
$100
Joanne N
$100
The Cohen Family...Allison, Mike, Mady, & Char
$100
Xoxo Mary and Ted Sica
$100
Anonymous
$100
Jed & Mary Kelly
$100
The Obsgarten Family
$100
Gloria Russo
$100
The Forsander family
$100
The Kearns Family
$100
Roe Iorio
$100
Deirdre Russo
$100
The Gurkas Family
$100
Tad Carter
$100
Emily and Neil Goetzman
$100
The Scarry Family
$100
Christina Tenaglia
$100
The Collums💗
$100
Gina Pugliese
$100
Frank D Isoldi
$100
Tracy Kelliher
$100
The Farrell Family
$100
Steve Hooey and kids
$100
Sarah Russo
$100
Renate Rosenkranz geb. Paul
$100
Anonymous
$100
Katie Felix
$75
Kaitlyn Mullany
$75
KayKay
$60
Elaine McDonnell
$60
Lilli Crowther
$60
Michelle Pierce
$50
Anonymous
$50
Geraldine Besson
$50
Darren & Michelle Composto
$50
Annabel Goetzman
$50
Diane McAuliffe Anderson
$50
Shannon Ciprut
$50
Emily Caffrey
$50
Sam
$50
Jack Liebling
$50
Lucy S
$45
Charlie C
$30
TMA
$25
Anonymous
$25
Emma Wrobel
$25
Margot Roussel
$25
Anonymous
$20
Fiona R
$20
Anonymous
$10