‘Running, and raising money for cancer research, is my cause, and I’m happy to help!’

Kevin Bartolotto, Bayville

“Although I was a good athlete in high school, I always disliked running. But that feeling changed after I lost Grandma Fran to lymphoma in 2008. I was very close to her, and her death jolted me. I always wanted to do something to honor her memory. Years passed. I worked full time as an auto mechanic in our family business, married and bought a house. One day, I spotted a friend’s picture on Facebook. She had completed her first half-marathon, and I thought, ‘If she can do that, I can run a full marathon.’

God gave me a gift, so I should use it to help people.

“So I signed up for the TCS New York City Marathon. I never run more than two miles in one shot. Everyone thought I was nuts — which I am! I decided to join Fred’s Team — named after Fred Lebow, the NYC Marathon director who died of cancer —, and raise money for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in memory of Grandma Fran. I raised about $8,000 that year — and ran a 3:42 with little training! I ran again in 2017 and raised $10,000.

“In January 2018, my father was diagnosed with colon cancer. More determined than ever to beat this disease, I ran the TCS NY Marathon in 2018, and I raised over $20,000 for colon cancer research. My father finished his chemotherapy sessions just before the race, and my whole family joined me at the end and we celebrated afterwards. It was following this race that I realized this was my cause, this was my life! I ran the Long Island Marathon! I ran the Chicago Marathon. I thought: God gave me a gift, so I should use it to help people. I was set to run the Tokyo Marathon when COVID hit, canceling the race. My buddies and I heard about the upcoming Napa Valley [California] Marathon and wanted to run. We contacted the race director, calling ourselves the Lost Tokyo Marathon Runners, and we were accepted — and I ran my best marathon: 2:59:10. That time enabled me to be accepted for the Boston Marathon, which I did next. I ran Berlin! I ran London! I am one of 250 New York runners who have completed the Abbott World Major Marathons: Boston, New York, Berlin, London, Tokyo and Chicago. I’ve raised over $80,000 for Fred’s Team. Running, and raising money for cancer research, is my cause, and I’m happy to help!”

Interviewed by Saul Schachter