Fred's Team

"As a breast medical oncologist and physician-scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I was honored to cross the United Airlines NYC Half finish line on Sunday with over 100 Fred’s Team teammates.? ?? I never thought I’d be a runner. Then I had the privilege of speaking about my research at the 2024 Fred’s Team Pre-Race Celebration for the TCS New York City Marathon. I was so inspired by the dedication and passion of the Fred’s Team community — the long and steady training needed to get to the finish line really seemed to mirror the scientific research process.? ?? And by traversing the long and demanding road that is research, we have made huge strides in understanding and treating breast cancers — so much so that it's hard to recognize the way I practiced when I started out 20 years ago. One example of this is the discovery of the HER2 gene. Decades of research illuminated how this gene promotes the growth of a subset of breast cancers and led the way to many different treatments for these diseases. As a result, HER2 turned from one of the most lethal and refractory subsets of breast cancer into one which can be controlled in most patients.? ? This type of lifesaving development happened entirely because of research. Thanks to groundbreaking research happening at MSK, the next wave of breast cancer breakthroughs is now within sight. And philanthropic programs like Fred’s Team make this progress possible. Fred’s Team funding is the inspiration for my research, helping me and my colleagues be relentless in the face of a disease that is relentless.? ?? Although people with HER2 breast cancer have dramatically better outcomes today, the reality is that breast cancer is still the most common malignancy in women and the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States. My hope is that one day we’ll have the right treatments for every type of cancer, and this hope is what keeps me going in my lab, with my patients, and on my long runs.??? ?? Thank you to every Fred’s Team runner and donor who made the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half such an incredible race. It was my first-ever half-marathon, and there’s no team I’d rather have run it with than Fred’s Team." —Sarat Chandarlapaty, MD, PhD, The Naddisy Foundation Chair in Breast Cancer Research?

THANK YOU to our incredible #UnitedNYCHalf runners! Your dedication and hard work have truly paid off. So far this year, you've raised over $420,000 for cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Encourage friends and family to donate before fundraising pages close on April 15. Continue sharing your amazing race-day photos and keep tagging us so we can relive all of your special moments!

Good luck to our United Airlines NYC Half runners this Sunday! Look out for our cheer section around Mile 10 at Lexington Avenue and 42nd Street. As you make your way across 42nd Street, stay to the right and strike a pose for our photographer. And don't forget to tag us in all your race-day photos!

Check out these three tips from Coach Marci to keep in mind ahead of the United Airlines NYC Half this weekend!

"I’m running the United Airlines NYC Half with Fred’s Team in honor of my partner’s father, Wayne Carlson, who passed away this past October after a 2-year battle with stage 4 colorectal cancer. Wayne cherished the little moments with his loved ones. He was a devoted husband, a father of three, and a one-of-a-kind friend. He strove to make the world a better place than he found it, and he instilled that value in all of us who were closest to him.? ? I’ll never forget the day at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center when we learned that Wayne had run out of treatment options because the cancer had become too aggressive. His first thoughts weren’t about himself, but about helping children with cancer and their families, ensuring that others wouldn’t have to endure the same pain. His selflessness and strength continue to inspire me daily and drive me to live out his mission: Leave the world in a better place than where we found it.? ? A few weeks after Wayne passed, I discovered Fred’s Team, and I felt a deep connection to its mission. It felt like the perfect opportunity to give back to MSK, pay tribute to Wayne, honor our loved ones, and show support for all of us impacted by cancer. Every dollar I raise will go to MSK’s colon cancer research labs in honor of Wayne’s legacy and his wish to help prevent cancer-related suffering. I am also dedicating miles 9 to 11 to my Uncle Michael, a U.S. Veteran, National Guard member, and 9/11 first responder who spent most of 2022 battling cancer and was taken from us too soon. Mile 12 is dedicated to my grandfather Richard, who is currently fighting his own battle with cancer. This race is for all of us. It’s a tribute to the loved ones we’ve lost, to those still fighting their battle with cancer, to our families and friends experiencing profound loss, and to the healthcare teams at MSK who care for our families and conduct vital research to advance treatments and save lives.? ? I’m proud to be representing MSK and Fred’s Team at the United Airlines NYC Half, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to support those impacted by cancer and fundraise for colon cancer research, with the hope that new treatments will improve the lives of people everywhere with cancer." —Kylee T.?#DedicateYourMiles #FredsTeam #MSK

Thank you to our United Airlines NYC Half runners for everything you're doing to advance cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Shoutout to our top participants for your incredible fundraising efforts so far!

"I’m running my first United Airlines NYC Half in honor of my dad, who died of prostate cancer in 2001.? ? My father’s illness started with mild symptoms. He was stoic and kept his feelings to himself. It took a while for the cancer to travel from his prostate to his pancreas. He told me he didn’t want to spend his remaining days being experimented on in a hospital. So, he spent his last days managing his pain. He became very spiritual and even made a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, in the hope of a miracle. My one regret is not getting him into Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.? ? As a member of the MSK family, I truly appreciate the researchers and caregivers at MSK. In addition to supporting their lifesaving work, I’m thrilled and honored to be part of Fred’s Team because I personally knew Fred Lebow. We met while I was volunteering for New York Road Runners. His leadership was so inspiring, and I still miss him today.? ? I am running to help benefit pancreatic cancer research. I hope that one day we can put this disease in the rearview mirror!"?—Roland J.?#FredsTeam #MSK #DedicateYourMiles

There is officially ONE WEEK left until the United Airlines NYC Half! Drop a comment below if we’ll see you out on the course. ??

Let's give a huge shoutout to Charles for conquering the Tokyo Marathon last weekend! He added extra meaning to his miles by raising money for cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center through Fred's Team. He has raised over $8,500 so far this year in honor of several family members affected by cancer. We're so grateful for your dedication, Charles! ???? #FredsTeam #TokyoMarathon #CancerResearch #MSK

"My sister Maggie and I are running the United Airlines NYC Half with Fred's Team to raise money for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2020, and I’ve been treated at MSK ever since. My experience at MSK has been fantastic — every single doctor, nurse, and support staff member has gone above and beyond to make sure I get the best treatment possible. Just as importantly, they have been incredibly kind to me during some of the most difficult times in my life. Thanks to them, I’m here today and able to run for this amazing organization with my sister and friends.? ?? We are running for those who can't, for the patients who are still in treatment, and for the families who are going through it. We are running to support the doctors who are discovering new treatments and bringing us a step closer to a world without cancer.?? ?? Thank you, MSK, for being a beacon of hope for so many." —Carolyn C. & Maggie C.?