I'm fundraising for my mom, Susan
I started running because my mom did. Long before I came along, she was racing marathons all over the world - including the NYC Marathon. I think she'd be shocked (and elated) that I am running marathons at all, let alone one of the majors. She would also love the community of runners (or just carb load partners) that I am so blessed to have. Every run is a good run when you've got good company. That's the spirit I'm carrying into this race.
In 2015, my mom was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. I became her primary caregiver while finishing my undergrad degree — and I was lucky, in a way not everyone is. My mom could afford in-home help as she declined and my days got longer with work and class. That assistance was invaluable; I genuinely can't imagine having gone through it without that support.
Not every family has that option, and that's what I'm running to change. A diagnosis is hard enough on its own. But being unable to step out the door, to catch your breath, to feel like your own person even for an hour is an opportunity every caregiver should have. I want to help the people who can't pay out of pocket for the kind of care that got my mom and I through.
My mom passed away in 2022, three months after I finished my first marathon. She wasn't super verbose when I last talked to her, but I like to think she was impressed my the medal.
Currently, more than 6 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, and that number is expected to grow to nearly 13 million by 2050. Our future is at risk, and we must come together to change the course of this disease.
Please support my efforts by making a donation. All funds raised benefit the Alzheimer's Association and its work to enhance care and support programs and advance research toward methods of treatment, prevention, and, ultimately, a cure for Alzheimer's disease. Thank you for joining the fight against Alzheimer’s disease!
My Updates
Book Binding Raffle
I'm raffling off THREE custom rebound books. Any book you want, any design, any color (within my skill level!) I picked up rebinding as a hobby last year and have had so much fun with it. I take an existing book, rip the cover off, and remake it from scratch. These run $100–200 on Etsy. You could win one for as little as $5.
HOW THE RAFFLE WORKS:
📖 Any donation made in the month of August is automatically entered — no extra step, no form to fill out
📖 Every $5 = 1 entry. $5 is one entry, $20 is four entries, $50 is ten. No cap.
📖 Donations must NOT be anonymous, or I'll have no way to know it was you. If you already donated anonymously (or want to), just email/DM me a screenshot of your receipt and I'll get you entered
📖 Donations must be made through my fundraising page (right here!)
📖 August 1–31 only. Entries close at 8:00 PM PST on August 31st
📖 THREE winners announced September 1st. I'll announce here and email each winner directly
📖 Winners and I will work together on the design: book, colors, details, all of it. Limit of three rounds of edits.
📖 Guaranteed delivery by December 1st, just in time for the holidays 🎄
📖 Shipping is on me (US only!)
Thank you for being here and helping to #ENDAlz
Thank you to my Donors
$1,000
Eugenie Sullivan And John Gassmann
$537.51
Run & Yap
$262.22
Zean Gassmann
It’s not optional to love Maddy.
$250
Mccall Peck
Peck clan is cheering you on ♡
$250
Anonymous
NYC Marathon! Awesome! My Dad did it in 1988 … I did it in 1989 … amazing experience.
$250
Laura Mercer
😍
$250
Anonymous
$250
Joana Maresh
yay maddy!!!
$250
Ladies Of Fit Lit Run Club
$250
Patrick Nash
Good luck!
$200
Frank Gassmann
Great cause and a wonderful and touching way to honor your mom! Good luck!
$200
Ivan Rizzo
“run Forest runnnn” - Taylor Swift
$200
Wesker
Let’s go Maddy!
$200
Neal Gassmann
Way to go, Maddy. Keep up the great work. Proud of you.
$200
Rick Arpin
Go get 'em Maddy!
$200
Smira Patel
Maddy - super proud of you! Thank you for sharing your story!
$200
Ladies Of Grace Run Club
$150
Michael G
LET’S GO MADDY!!!
$150
Ryan Mchugh
Here's the last $150 for your goal. Thanks for fundraising for a great cause!
$120
Gery
That’s my girl!!!!
$120
Kevin
$120
Anonymous
$120
Anonymous
$120
Beth Petty
$105
Alexis C, Bekah P, Laura M, Becky C & Sarina G
$101
Shirish Rajurkar
Great Cause and Best of Luck!
$100
Jordan Santini
YOU FREAKIN GO GIRL
$100
Carter J
$100
Rachel G
The NY Marathon is lucky to have you!!!!!
$100
Candy Ferner
So proud of you.
$100
Amanda Najarro-massanari
QUEEN I’m forever so proud of you!!!
$100
Danielle Baslee
If you PR your mile time during NYC I’ll run a race of any distance anywhere, you choose! (Just give me about a year).
$100
Ashley Armstrong
She would be so proud of you. I am, too!
$100
Alexis Kogel
Proud of you Maddy G !!
$100
Alexis Chalmers
Love you always! Your mom was a force to be reckoned with, and so are you.
$100
Tanja Josipovic
I love you, my indomitable friend <3
$100
Kathy Schreiber
$100
Annalee Ross
You’re so amazing!! Can’t wait to see you crush NYC
$100
Nick Chalmers
$100
Cali-lee Camacho
Maddy you’re so amazing ❤️ forever cheering you on (even from far away!)
$100
Bradyn Mensch
$100
Jordan
Gimme dat book
$100
Carmen
$100
Miles Mercer
SO CLOSE!!
$75
Denver Contingent
$64
Anonymous
$60
Maddy Gassmann
$60
Jordan C
$60
Staci Crosby
Go Maddy!!! Run fast and don’t suck!
$60
Lorraine C
$60
Annie Vaughn Cravens
Proud of you Maddy
$60
Sarina
You are such an amazing person and I love you so much! EndAlz.
$60
John Starkey
You're a champion. Well, at least your legs and brains are b/c I couldn't do this.
$60
Cheryl Perna
What a beautiful way to honor your mom. Enjoy running the streets of NYC! Every step is amazing!
$60
Amanda Morris
I am so damn proud of you and I know your mom would be too. Can’t wait to cheer you on in NYC!!!! Wish I could run & yap with you for training!!! 💕
$60
Anonymous
$60
Jamie Malloy
Good luck on your race, beautiful!
$50
Elaine Jaross
Go Maddy Go!!!
$50
Stephen & Mikaila Myhal
we are so lucky to call you our friend! can’t wait to cheer you on along this journey of yours!!
$50
Cydney & Carlotta
Forever and always so proud of you!
$50
Carli Sukow
GO MADDY!!!
$50
Natalie Ericson
$50
Gabrielle Teague
$50
Erica Korleski
💛💛💛💛
$50
Carla Hernandez
Get it Maddy!!! This is so amazing you beautiful person!
$50
Kaylee Koch
Get it Maddy!!
$50
Bekah P.
so proud of you Maddy!!
$50
Kaitlyn Sanders
Good luck and thank you for running for such a meaningful reason!!
$50
Tim Lynch
Best of luck with the marathon in the fall!
$50
Alondra R.
$50
Natalie Ericson
Love you Maddy!! Let’s get you to 10k!!!!
$50
Brian Phillips
$50
Kevin Olivis
Good luck on the race!!! Go Maddy!
$40
Maryssa Abraham
Proud of you!! 💜
$40
Holly Whytock
Congrats on making this milestone happen. You are doing your mom proud. Miss you, and best of luck!
$40
Leslie T
Go Maddy! Proud of you <3
$40
Tanya Valencia
💜💜💜
$40
Tanya Valencia
So proud to be your friend!!
$35
Yami
Go Maddy Go!!
$35
Jessica
🤍
$35
Emma Zeigler
crush it!!
$35
Emily
$35
Kristen Palma
$30
Michelle Petty
NYC marathon is magical! I am so excited for you! Soak it all in. Truly nothing like it
$30
Edwin Rivera
$30
Olivia Pelehach
$26.20
Lindsay Milligan
$26
Jill Casey
$26
Leigh-ana
go Maddy go!
$26
Emily Coleman
Maddy, you’re a rockstar! 🏃🏼♀️ 👏🏼
$26
Alana
Run on my dude!
$26
Denise Mejia
$25
Anonymous
🫶🏽
$25
Alexis Kogel
$20
Preston
Alzheimers blows.
$20
Nicole Cicia
You’re such an inspiration! Can’t wait to see you crush it girl!
$20
William Sparks
$20
Aaron
$20
Francisco Robles
$20
Adrianna Evans-grijalva
$15
Anonymous
So proud of you Maddy 💜
$15
Alicia O'neil
You got this!!
$15
Amber Horne & Family
$15
Emily Shepard
You go girl!!!!! 🩷🩷🩷
$13.60
Aaron
$10
You go girl. We love you!!!! Your mom would be so proud of you!!!