This Sunday, over 200 runners will run the NYC Marathon with Team Fox-- our biggest team of athletes to date. While these amazing runners come from all corners of the United States and bring with them a wide variety of inspiration which will help carry them all 26.2 miles towards Central Park's finish line, they all share the same common goal: to speed a cure to Parkinson's disease. Below, three of our Team Fox marathoners provide a quick snapshot of their journey thus far.

Jennifer Iaccarino | Trumbull, CT

In 2005, Jennifer’s mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. After witnessing the daily challenges precipitated by PD, Jenn wanted to contribute to raising awareness and to help speed a cure. Acting upon her lifelong dream to run the NYC Marathon, Jenn joined Team Fox. After Hurricane Sandy waylaid her initial plans in 2012, Jenn is back again for 2013 and more ready than ever for race day!

Preparing for and running a marathon is full of challenges, but when Jennifer thinks of how brave and optimistic her mother is every day, she pushes on, putting her own fear and excuses aside.  She can’t wait to be running alongside her fellow marathoners, hearing the cheers of her city, and seeing her family at the finish.

Read more about Jenn’s story.

David Chedester | Lynchburg, VA

David’s connection to Parkinson’s began eight years ago when his father was diagnosed at the age of 52. Only a few years later, David himself was diagnosed at the age of 27.  For David, joining Team Fox was his way of taking an active role in contributing to the work of Michael J. Fox Foundation.

While he admits he has never been a runner, David’s reasoning for taking on the NYC marathon is to prove that he CAN, despite living with Parkinson’s.  Admittedly, training has been exhausting, but he can’t wait accomplish something he was told he could not do. 

Learn more about David’s Parkinson’s advocacy, the book he’s written and his fundraising.

Hillary Canada | Jersey City, NJ

Hillary’s connection to Parkinson’s came through her grandmother, Joyce, who battled the disease valiantly in the last years of her life. After watching the TEAMFOX athletes in the 2010 New York City Marathon and being inspired by all that the runners put into finishing the race in support of funding critical PD research, Hillary was IN!

Self- admittedly, running is not a natural gift for Hillary, but as she’s come to find, “there’s something very rewarding about dedicating time to something you’re terrible at. It’s about overcoming, and about not giving up.” Overcoming obstacles is something every marathoner and every person living with Parkinson’s has to do; it is the challenge that connects us.

Like many of her running peers and TEAMFOX teammates, Hillary cannot wait to cross the finish line in Central Park and realize the culmination of all her shin splints, early mornings and ice baths.

Click to learn more about Hillary’s Team Fox journey thus far.