Team CRI is Fundraising for a World Immune to Cancer at the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon

The Cancer Research Institute (CRI) is proud to be hosting 15 runners in the 2024 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon, who are selflessly running to raise money for cancer immunotherapy research on St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17, 2024, at 7 a.m.

Want to do something impactful for cancer immunotherapy research by supporting Team CRI in the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon? Your contribution can help fuel the future of cancer treatment and care by making a donation today to the Cancer Research Institute.

Running in a marathon with Team CRI is one of the several unique, fun, and crucial ways our fundraisers help us raise money for innovative cancer research around the globe. Team CRI runners have currently raised almost $23,000 so far and are well on their way to meeting their team goal of $30,000.

The funds raised by Team CRI runners will go directly to fund the research of CRI scientists whose work is focused on a variety of different cancers. The funding goes solely towards cancer immunotherapy research, which is the most innovative form of cancer research. Some of the scientists CRI funds are rising stars who are early in their careers, while others are seasoned scientific veterans who have very precise avenues of research such as work with gene editing or liquid biopsies.

In recent decades, CRI-funded cancer immunotherapy research has made significant strides towards many breakthroughs that have helped improve or save patients’ lives.

In November, several Team CRI runners expressed why they were excited to participate in the TCS New York City Marathon. Some of the Team CRI runners shared their personal reasons for joining and fundraising with Team CRI for the NYC half marathon.

“I will be running 13.1 miles in the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon with the Cancer Research Institute, in honor of my grandfather,” Rachel Eng says. “Your contribution will not only honor my grandfather’s legacy, but also contribute to lifesaving research that will bring us closer to a future immune to cancer.”  

Eng is not alone in running to raise funds for cancer immunotherapy research in honor of a loved one. “I am running not just for the finish line, but for my cousin Lourdes, who sadly passed away from brain cancer on February 18th this year,” says Shana Hecht via her fundraising page. “I have been thinking about her every day these past couple of months and will always run towards a cure in her honor.”

Team CRI runner Josh H. says on his individual fundraising page this NYC half marathon will be his first. On the other end of the spectrum, Lucy C. will be running in her 30^th half marathon this weekend.

“(My father died from) lung cancer despite the fact that he never smoked, which highlights how cancer can affect anyone unexpectedly,” Lucy says on her fundraising page. “It is a terrible disease that has impacted too many of us and our loved ones. I chose to raise money for the Cancer Research Institute because I wanted to fundraise to help find a cure.” Lucy plans to match all donations to her page up to $3,000.

In the fall, CRI will field teams for additional popular marathons including the 2024 Berlin BMW Marathon, the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon, and the 2024 Honolulu Marathon.

If you have any questions about joining Team CRI, call Cierra Howard, Manager, Community Fundraising, at (212) 688-7515 or email [email protected]. Your support helps fuel our mission of creating a world immune to cancer.

You can follow the race on social media with the hashtag #UAHalfMarathon.