My name is Zuri Adelekan, and I will be running the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon with Team Baldwin! This will be my first marathon, and I’m so excited to contribute to Team Baldwin’s cause. After a hiatus from running, I decided to lace up my shoes again and, like many runners, set my sights on a marathon. As a native New Yorker, I’ve spent years on the sidelines cheering on runners as the city comes alive every marathon weekend. When I began researching teams, I knew I wanted to run with a purpose, and Team Baldwin stood out immediately. While I’m nervous and excited for what’s ahead, my biggest motivation is my grandmother, Lillian, whom my family lost to breast cancer in 2007. Although her legacy lives on through photos and family stories, I wish we had more time together, and I often wish she were here to celebrate life’s milestones with us.
Cancer affects everyone in some capacity, and my first experience with grief and loss came from losing my grandmother. I’m running to raise money for the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund to support the critical research being done so that more families can have the time together that mine didn’t. Please consider making a donation to this incredible cause. Thank you for your support, and I’ll see you at the finish line!