Tag Archives: marathon

AKTIV Against Cancer Honors Peter Kirk and Ethan Zohn at annual benefit Oct. 28 in NYC

AKTIV Against Cancer, the organization co-founded by legendary runner Grete Waitz, and Helle Aanesen, announced today that Healthcare entrepreneur and cancer survivor Peter Kirk, and entrepreneur, philanthropist and veteran athlete Ethan Zohn will be this year’s honorees at the eleventh annual awards dinner, which will take place at the New York Athletic Club on October 28, the week prior to the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon. The event has generated over $750,000 in donations in the first ten years it has been held.

“As we start our second decade, we could not think of a better pair to honor than Peter and Ethan this year,” Aanesen said. “Their entrepreneurial spirit, grit, empathy, determination to succeed and most importantly connection to our cause of exercise and cancer embody everything that AKTIV Against Cancer stands for, and we are so excited they have both chosen to join a group of honorees from our first ten years.”

Peter Kirk is a husband, father, cancer survivor, CEO of Sermo and founder of the charitable organization Be Your Possible. Under Peter’s leadership over the past 25 years, Sermo has been turning physician experience, expertise, and observations into actionable business insights that benefit pharmaceutical companies, healthcare partners, and the medical community at large.

Diagnosed at the height of the pandemic with Acute Leukemia (AML) as well as double lung pneumonia, Peter received a life-saving stem cell bone marrow transplant 8 months after diagnosis, in June 2021 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). When Peter crossed the finish line of the New York City Marathon five months post-transplant, he knew that his life’s work had only just begun. It’s now Peter’s mission to raise money for medical research – an integral part of improving patient outcomes – and empower and inspire others along the way. Be Your Possible’s flagship event is the annual Run for Research, hosted by Peter and attracting thousands of HCPs and others globally to hit the ground running to unlock money for medical advancement. Since its inception, Run for Research has donated $1M+ to more than 50 medical research organizations. Peter has also committed to running 1,000 half marathons by the 10th anniversary of his life-saving blood stem cell transplant to raise $1,000,000 for research at MSK, creating a movement to inspire others to live up to their greatest potential – whatever that may be.

NYCRUNS Brooklyn Marathon Signs Multi-Year Agreement With adidas as Footwear and Apparel Partner

NYCRUNS, one of the fastest-growing endurance event businesses and the organizer of the 2022 NYCRUNS Brooklyn Marathon & Half Marathon, today announced that adidas has joined on as the first-ever official Footwear and Apparel Partner for the event, which will be held in Brooklyn on April 24th. With an expected sold-out field of more than 20,000 runners, the 2022 race will rank as one of the largest and most expansive running events in the United States this year.

“We are proud to have adidas, one of the world’s most respected and innovative brands, joining us in this partnership as we continue to establish the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Marathon & Half Marathon as an iconic athletic event that serves our communities well beyond race weekend,” said Steve Lastoe, Founder and CEO of NYCRUNS. “We looked for a partner who wanted to be embedded within the culture of Brooklyn year-round, and we found that in adidas – a company with deep ties to the sports and cultural foundation of this incredible community.”

adidas will create footwear and apparel available to all race participants, volunteers and NYCRUNS staff members, and will be the presenting sponsor of the race Expo. The brand will also provide race shirts for participants in the NYCRUNS Prospect Park 5K & 10K Benefiting CAMBA on April 16.

“At adidas, we are always looking for opportunities to expand our outreach and engagement in the communities we serve and we are proud to partner with NYCRUNS to support the running community in Brooklyn,” said Ernesto Bruce, Senior Director of adidas Running, North America. “It’s bound to be a really incredible race weekend, with a size and scope that hasn’t been done in decades.”

Currently on track to sell out, the 2022 NYCRUNS Brooklyn Marathon & Half Marathon will be one of the biggest running events in New York City and one of the largest running events nationwide. An epic tour of Brooklyn, the race also strives to serve and support the residents and communities that make up the borough. This exciting new partnership is an important step in achieving that mission.

cover image credit: Keith Montero