Running for the House

Since the early days of the Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY), partnerships have played a pivotal role in supporting families navigating critical health journeys. Among the most impactful of these partnerships is the one with the TCS New York City Marathon, a platform where countless runners have championed RMH-NY’s cause, raising funds and awareness for families of children facing life-threatening illnesses. This year, one such runner is Jennifer Petrone, whose participation embodies a deeply personal mission to give back to the organization that once supported her own family through a life-threatening health crisis.

When Jennifer takes to the starting line of the NYC Marathon, she will be running with a purpose that goes beyond the physical challenge of 26.2 miles. She was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect affecting multiple parts of the heart, which caused her to be born with low oxygen levels. Within days, her parents knew they faced a daunting journey. To stabilize her condition and improve her oxygen flow, Jennifer needed a major heart surgery at just three months old.

Her surgery took place at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital (then known as Schneider’s Children’s Hospital) in Long Island. As Jennifer faced her critical health journey, RMH-NY offered her parents a place to stay nearby, allowing them to be present for Jennifer’s recovery and providing comfort during an incredibly uncertain time. For Jennifer, RMH-NY has always represented a haven of support—a place where families find community, rest, and a sense of normalcy as they navigate the unknown.

The partnership between RMH-NY and the TCS NYC Marathon started as a way to fundraise but has evolved into a powerful tradition. Each year, runners join forces to champion RMH-NY’s mission to offer a “home-away-from-home” for families whose children are undergoing treatment in NYC hospitals. These runners are not just completing a challenging course; they’re raising essential funds to cover the cost of lodging, meals, and supportive services at the House. Through their participation, they remind families in crisis that they aren’t alone.

Jennifer’s journey to this year’s marathon began long before her first training session. Her commitment to running in honor of RMH-NY is a tribute to the strength and resilience of families, especially her own. With each mile she runs, she carries her family’s experience and the memory of her own life-saving treatment. Her story is one of full-circle gratitude—running to support an organization that once supported her family during a time of unimaginable difficulty.

Today, Jennifer is a Nurse Practitioner at North Shore University Hospital, specializing in endocrinology. Her role is to care for patients facing chronic health challenges, bringing both medical expertise and a deep empathy shaped by her own health journey. Before becoming a nurse practitioner, Jennifer spent eight years as a critical care nurse—a role that required the utmost dedication and led her to further her medical training. Her healthcare career is a testament to her commitment to helping others, and running the NYC Marathon for RMH-NY aligns with her life’s purpose of supporting people in need.

“I know firsthand how scary it is to face life-threatening health issues and how important it is to have support nearby,” Jennifer reflects. “Ronald McDonald House New York made it possible for my parents to be with me when I needed them the most. Now, running the marathon is my way of ensuring that other families have the same support and comfort that RMH-NY gave us.”

For Jennifer, running the NYC Marathon isn’t just about physical endurance—it’s a tribute to her family’s connection with RMH-NY and a way to give back to an organization that continues to impact families every day. With each mile, Jennifer’s goal is to raise funds that go directly to RMH-NY services like counseling, meal programs, and educational resources that make a tangible difference in the lives of families staying at the House.

The experience of staying at RMH-NY is invaluable to families who must remain close to medical facilities for extended periods. Many families who stay there come from all over the world, relying on RMH-NY to provide a supportive environment during their child’s treatment. Jennifer is driven to help provide this same support for families facing the same sense of uncertainty her own family once experienced. Every dollar raised through her marathon fundraiser brings hope, peace, and practical support to these families.

The NYC Marathon is one of RMH-NY’s largest annual fundraisers, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations each year. These funds directly support the House’s ability to provide a nurturing and stable environment for families in need. RMH-NY’s commitment to remain open 365 days a year ensures that families are never without a place to stay, a warm meal, or a compassionate community. Marathon runners like Jennifer are essential to maintaining and growing these programs, reminding families that there’s a community behind them every step of the way.

Jennifer’s story brings even greater significance to this year’s marathon. As she prepares to tackle each mile, she does so with a sense of purpose rooted in both her personal journey and her professional life as a caregiver. Her experience reminds us that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things when they come together to support a shared cause.

An invaluable partner in this mission is the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), a long-standing supporter of the RMH-NY marathon team. Over the years, RBC has been instrumental in sustaining the House’s programs by supporting hundreds of runners, including Jennifer, who are dedicated to the cause. Their sponsorship has helped RMH-NY runners raise critical funds that directly impact the families who rely on the House for support. RBC’s commitment goes beyond financial support, fostering a community of encouragement and involvement that brings everyone closer to RMH-NY’s mission.

Each year, RBC empowers RMH-NY runners with the resources and support they need to make their marathon journey both meaningful and impactful. Jennifer and her fellow runners are uplifted by RBC’s dedication, which underscores the importance of community support in achieving the House’s mission. For RMH-NY families, this partnership means that they can continue to receive the care and services they need during their time at the House, and RBC’s backing ensures the marathon’s impact extends far beyond race day.

For RMH-NY, marathon weekend is a time of celebration and unity. Staff, volunteers, families, and supporters gather along the marathon route to cheer on runners like Jennifer. For Jennifer and her fellow RMH-NY marathoners, the cheers and encouragement they receive from the crowd represent the power of community support. This is the very same support that RMH-NY families feel every day from the staff, volunteers, and donors who help sustain the House.

On race day, Jennifer’s family and friends will be cheering from the sidelines, celebrating the powerful connection between athletes and the families they run to support. Every cheer and sign along the course embodies the RMH-NY spirit, showing that families facing life’s toughest battles don’t have to face them alone.

As marathon day approaches, Jennifer reflects on her journey and the incredible support from her community. Her mission goes beyond finishing the race; she’s running to honor the strength of families who find themselves at RMH-NY during their children’s health crises. Her goal is to ensure that families facing similar challenges receive the same support, resources, and comfort that RMH-NY once provided her own family.

Jennifer’s message to her supporters is simple but powerful: every contribution, regardless of size, brings hope and healing to families in need. Through her marathon fundraiser, Jennifer exemplifies the RMH-NY spirit, showing that every challenge becomes more bearable when faced together. For Jennifer, each mile of the marathon is an opportunity to give back, knowing that her efforts will make a real difference in the lives of families supported by RMH-NY.

When Jennifer listens to the marathon’s starting gun to signify the beginning of the epic marathon journey, she does so with a heart full of gratitude, resilience, and determination. Her story from heart surgery as an infant to marathon runner is a story of strength and purpose, illustrating the profound impact RMH-NY has had on her life and continues to have on countless others. By supporting Jennifer’s marathon journey, you’re helping to ensure that more families can access the life-changing resources provided by RMH-NY.

To support Jennifer and RMH-NY’s marathon runners, visit her fundraising page and donate. Every contribution plays a role in sustaining the House’s mission to be a beacon of hope for families in need. Together, we can ensure that no family must face their journey alone, proving that the spirit of community can indeed go the distance.