Adam Sirota, 13
Roslyn, New York
New York Half Marathon
Funds Raised: $1,322
Why Team Fox: My best friend’s mom, Sharon Greif, has Parkinson’s. I’ve known the family for a long time. And a grandparent of another friend has PD. Once I decided to run the half, it made sense to run for Team Fox since I know people with PD.
Why a half marathon: I like running — I do track and cross country. I knew it would be a good challenge for me.
Greatest challenge: It’s a lot of work to train for the race. I’d do shorter distances during the week and longer runs on the weekend. It was a pretty busy schedule. But it helped that my mom ran with me during my training.
Greatest reward: The best part is the end. Your family is there cheering you on, the adrenaline kicks in, and you sprint to the finish. I enjoyed fundraising, too — talking to people about Team Fox and why the cause means something to you. It was cool to be able to raise some awareness.
What’s next: I’m running the half again for Team Fox this spring. In 2012, I finished in 1 hour, 42 minutes. I’m not sure I’ll be able to beat that, but I’ll try. Either way, I love the experience.
Best advice: Work hard. Do something you think you couldn’t do — something unexpected. It will make you feel great.
Read about other young Team Fox members.