As in Life, the Marathon is One Step at a Time

Alex is looking forward to running her second Marathon with NAMI-NYC. Alex is also a part of NAMI-NYC’s Young Professionals group. “I can’t imagine not being a part of the NAMI-NYC community,” Alex shared. 

Alex came to the forefront of last year’s marathon fundraising, raising almost $70,000 for NAMI-NYC mental health programs last year. She decided to run in memory of a friend, Matthew, who outwardly exemplified his depression for a short amount of time before he died by suicide at the age of 17. In the past, Alex recalled witnessing harsh comments and jokes about mental health, which now have new meaning to her after experiencing this tragedy. 

Matthew had been a close friend of Alex’s brother. Although she had only met Matthew once or twice, she was struck by what an incredible kid he was. “Underneath it all, we would have never known that someone like Matthew was struggling with depression,” Alex shared. 

Alex finds that running helps her with ADHD and her tendency to do too many things at once. She found that the Marathon keeps her head clear, and Matthew remains her motivation. “At first, I had felt the pressure, but I knew I had to finish the race for Matthew. I channeled the determination of the little engine that could,” Alex shared. “Running the Marathon is like life – just one step at a time.”

As she reflects on her journey, Alex urges others not to be afraid to share and talk to others. “The Marathon is an act of kindness for Matthew,” Alex said. “Kindness matters. Words matter.” 

You too can make a difference in someone’s life. Support Alex’s fundraising to keep NAMI-NYC’s mental health programs free to anyone who needs them.