The Nike Women’s San Francisco Marathon (NWM)—now in its 10th year— is one of the largest women’s marathons in the world. This year over 35,000 participates from all 50 states will run down the Great Highway as they cross the finish line on October 20, 2013.
The event has risen over $134 million in the last ten years for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training (LLS). This total makes the Nike Women’s Marathon one of the largest philanthropic contributors among organized races.
The race begins in Union Square and runs along the San Francisco Bay with scenic views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. Along the course runners will be treated to live entertainment, college cheer stations and Nike+ PowerSong stations. Each full and half marathon finisher for the Nike Women’s Marathon will receive a finisher’s t-shirt and specially designed Tiffany & Co. necklace and pendant commemorating the 2013 race.
The NWM recognizes the significance of the race for the LLS survivors and supporters. As part of the effort to bring to life this great cause-driven race, Latina survivors and supporters from the LLS Team in Training share their stories and bring us along their journey to the race and across the finish line. These stories help motivate other Latina survivors, supporters and their families every step of the way to their victory over Leukemia and Lymphoma.
Below please find stories of some inspirational Latinas who are running the race and who are available for phone or live interviews:
- Stefanie Frances, 60, to date she has raised over $100k. This is her 17th year as a Team in Training (TNT) participant and fundraiser. She has run every year in the Nike Marathon/ Half Marathon race. The October 2012 Nike Marathon was her 30th Marathon!
- Jessica Moncallo, 25, third generation Mexican and Puerto Rican American. Started running for exercise back in 2010 and got hooked. Always wanted to run a full marathon and what better way than to do it with some training and fundraising for a cause along the way. She chose to do the Nike Women’s Marathon because of their affiliation with Team in Training. She is the first one in her family and friends to run a marathon. Because of them Jessica stayed motivated by their overwhelming generosity and support. Her grandmother passed away 10 years ago from stomach cancer; Jessica is doing this in her grandmothers’ memory and for all of her supporters.
- Rebecca Mata, 33, held a tamale fundraiser. She had almost 35 dozen orders placed taking two days to make the 35 dozen tamales, but she did it. With over 50 years of tradition under her belt, Rebecca and her ‘team’ (her team being her mother, papa and sister) made each tamale as if they were making them for family, just like they do every Christmas. This was a great opportunity to spend time with her mom and learn her delicious secrets in the kitchen. Rebecca did her best to make note of the tamale process and hopefully will remember how to make them for her children and family one day.
- Diana Brown, 30, is a survivor who joined last fall and has done consecutive events since. She completed the inaugural half marathon in D.C. in the spring and will be participating in the half in San Francisco.
- Valerie Fiordilino, 27, participates in memory of her father, Leo Fiordilino, who had B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). For Nike this year, she has currently raised $50,866. Since becoming involved with LLS since 2008, she has personally raised well over $150,000.
For more information on the Nike Women’s Marathon please visit: https://www.facebook.com/ RunNikeWomenSeries
For more information on the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society please visit: http://www.lls.org/