Hi, my name is Alex Gomes and when I ran my first marathon ten years ago, I had no idea where this journey would take me. Like many runners, I set some goals — one of which was to qualify for the New York City Marathon. After years of hard work and discipline, I finally hit that goal this past November.  But I want this journey to New York City to have a greater, more personal meaning.

This November, I’m running the TCS NYC Marathon in support of Tackle Kids Cancer to raise funds for pediatric cancer research. Every dollar raised will benefit the Children’s Cancer Institute at Hackensack Meridian Health, supporting the work being done to help their littlest patients become kids again. 

Pediatric cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease among children in the US and only 4% of cancer research dollars are allocated to pediatric cancer. These facts are devastating, but the doctors at the Children’s Cancer Institute are working tirelessly to find a cure.

This cause hits incredibly close to home, as it has directly impacted my family. On May 15, 2022, my cousin, Evan (pictured), was diagnosed with Grade 4 Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) — an inoperable, terminal brain cancer with an average survival time of just 9–12 months. Evan bravely fought for 13 months and, heartbreakingly, passed away on June 19, 2023. Evan and I shared a love for WWE (shoutout John Cena) and crushing the rainbow road on Mario Kart. He was, and remains, a light, a warrior, and a reminder of why this fight is so important.

Raising money to find a cure is a marathon in itself — not a sprint. We still have a long way to go, but every single dollar makes a difference. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting my run! Together, we can make a real impact in this fight.

Because together, WE CAN Tackle Kids Cancer!