Two runners are fighting to cure pediatric cancer by lacing up their sneakers in honor of The Mary Ruchalski Foundation at the 2025 NYC Marathon on Nov. 2.
Rory Harms, 27, is preparing for what will be her first full-length marathon. “I ran the Hamptons half a couple years ago, and then I ran the Brooklyn half in May, but I’ve never done the full before,” she said.
Harms has been training for the upcoming race since June, increasing her mileage each week to prepare for the full-length. “I’ll go from five to seven miles earlier in the week, middle of the week, and then I build up to a longer run by the end of the week,” she said. “I’ve been running in the park a lot lately, in Central Park, and making sure to include hills in my runs.”
She has a goal of crossing the finish line in under 4 hours. “The Hamptons half I did in a little over two hours, and then the Brooklyn I did in 1:55,” Harms said. “I’m excited about the course, I’m excited to see all different parts of the city, but also just having my family there, that’s what I’m really looking forward to.”
So far Harms has surpassed her goal of $4,500 and hit over $5,200 for the foundation. “In RVC, the Mary Ruchalski Foundation has become a driving force, not only raising awareness for pediatric cancer, but also spreading positivity and kindness,” she said. “This is such a testament to who Mary was. It is also a testament to the Ruchalski family, who have created such an inspiring and impactful organization, keeping Mary’s memory alive, along with spreading hope and funding aid for those in need.”
Originally from Rockville Centre, Harms has lived in the Upper East Side of NYC for the past 2-3 years where she moved with her sister. “When I was home on Long Island, sometimes I would run to the beach,” she said. “So it’s nice doing that, just being outside. So that’s what I like about it a lot, too.”
Along with Harms is another first-time full-length marathon runner, John Hunter. Hunter is ready to achieve a lifelong goal of his to run a marathon, and he’s doing it with purpose. “I knew that if I was going to run, it had to be for The Mary Ruchalski Foundation,” he said. “Running for Mary gives my life goal of completing a marathon so much more meaning.”
For Hunter, The Mary Ruchalski Foundation hits closer to home as the Ruchalskis are connected to him as part of his wife’s side of the family. “I wouldn’t run it for anyone else, if I’m being honest, I would have pushed it, because it does mean so much to me, and it’s when I’m running, when I’m training all of these things, in the back of my mind that pushes me through this,” he said. “It puts everything, all this training and all the stuff that you have to do to complete a marathon. It really puts into perspective what Mary went through and what all these other kids are going through, this should be easy enough for me to do this type of thing in her memory.”
Despite this being his first full run, Hunter has run a half marathon previously this year in NYC. To prepare for the full-length, he has gotten a coach to train with. “I would say it’s a lot of early mornings, a lot of long miles, but at the same time, it’s a good commitment to do something like this over an extended period of time,” he said. “Over the course of four months, it’s on a weekly basis, it increases mileage, and then a few weeks ago was the highest point, and then it kind of decreases up until the actual race.”
Hunter grew up in Rockville Centre and recently moved back around two years ago. He has an end time goal of under 4 hours and has currently raised $3,500 out of his goal of $4,500.
The Mary Ruchalski Foundation has been chosen as an Official Charity Partner for the New York Road Runners. The foundation raises money to find a cure for pediatric cancers like Mary Ruchalski’s, who died in 2018 at 12 years old.
For more information on the runner for The Mary Ruchalski Foundation, visit TheMaryRuchalskiFoundation.org/NYRR-Charity-Partner
