Juan Carlos "JC" Martinez

I’m Fundraising in Honor of My Grandmother, Graciela Martinez

Last year, I was lucky enough to win the lottery to run the NYC Marathon. What started as a personal challenge became one of the most meaningful journeys of my life, teaching me the value of discipline and perseverance.

As I trained, I realized that this year, I wanted the marathon to represent something bigger than just myself or a physical challenge. I wanted every mile to carry a deeper purpose.

This year, I’m running in honor of my grandmother, Graciela Martinez, known to me as “Anma,” and to many of her loved ones and friends as “Gachi” while supporting the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

My grandmother was a loving mother to my Tio Carlos, Tia Mari, and my father, Paul. To everyone who knew her, she was always smiling and full of life. She brought people together and made everyone around her feel loved.

Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s slowly changed that over the final years of her life.

One of my strongest childhood memories is my dad taking us to visit her every Thursday. No matter how difficult things became, he always found a way to make her laugh and smile. Even as the disease progressed, those moments reminded me how powerful love and patience can be.

Watching someone you love battle Alzheimer’s is heartbreaking. It affects not only the person diagnosed, but also every family member walking beside them through the journey. 

By participating in the NYC Marathon, I hope to honor my grandmother’s memory while helping raise awareness and funds for research, care, and support for families facing this disease today.

Every donation, no matter the size, helps support the Alzheimer’s Association and its mission to advance research and move us closer to a cure.

Thank you for supporting me, my family, and the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.