New York Road Runners has named The Fund for Public Health NYC an Official Charity Partner of the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, taking place Sunday, Nov. 1. The TCS New York City Marathon is one of the most inclusive and accessible sporting events in the world, with more than 55,000 athletes running the same course on the same day—from the first to the final finisher.
This year, Team FPHNYC is made up of an inspiring group of runners — from first-time marathoners to seasoned athletes — with each team member committing to months of training and fundraising in support of healthier communities across New York City.
As the dedicated nonprofit partner of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (the Health Department), FPHNYC helps make it possible for companies, foundations, and individuals to support programs that serve 8.5 million New Yorkers. Through this work, FPHNYC expands access to primary care and health screenings, affordable and nutritious foods, mental health support, and other essential services that help keep New York City healthy.
FPHNYC is grateful for the generous support of our team sponsor, USI Insurance Services, whose partnership helps make this work possible and strengthens our impact across New York City. Other companies are also encouraged to sponsor Team FPHNYC and can find information at FPHNYC’s website.
We are proud to introduce the 2026 marathon team and look forward to cheering them on throughout the season as they train, fundraise, and prepare to cross the finish line together.
Meet Team FPHNYC 2026
Spencer Brande (he/him)
Spencer was born and raised in Westchester, NY and holds a degree in Public Health from the University at Buffalo. He has lived in New York City for 6 years. As a relatively new runner, it has been an early goal to run the NYC Marathon. Through his work at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for 6 years as a hospital administrator in the Department of Surgery, he continues to be inspired by the resilience of MSK patients battling cancer and the discipline and work ethic of the surgeons who help them. These principles have helped him accomplish 4 marathons and countless half marathons in 2 years. Outside of running, Spencer is an avid skier and traveler having visited over 16 countries. He is grateful for the opportunity to support public health around NYC by running and fundraising for FPHNYC.
✨ Spencer’s Fun Fact ✨ Spencer loves to ski, travel, and explore New York. He has also recently registered as an Achilles guide to help runners with disabilities during workouts and races! 🎿🏙️
Rahul Chabra (he/him)
Rahul is an avid traveler, baker, and chef who brings the same spirit to everything. He started running about 207 days ago after losing a bet to a friend and what began a reluctant challenge has turned into a meaningful daily habit. When he is not logging miles on the pavement, he spends the working hours at the TikTok Office working in the strategy department, helping negotiate to keep the company in the US. As he expands his running journey, Rahul wants to focus on making this a memorable experience for himself. Recently he has heard about this idea of Misogi, tackle an extremely difficult challenge once a year. The other aspect he loves of running is the ability to eat more, in fact his favorite hobby is to carbo-load with either brownies or cookies to fuel his runs as much as possible. Joining the marathon team is the next exciting chapter in a journey that started with a lost bet and he is looking forward to see where its going to go and the brownies he gets to eat.
✨ Rahul’s Fun Fact ✨ Rahul was on a blind date cooking show back in 2022! 👨🍳📺
Sophie Di Scala (she/her)
Sophie is a 25-year-old dietetics graduate student currently attending Stony Brook University. She grew up on Long Island and attended Binghamton University, where she studied environmental science and health and wellness. She is a group fitness instructor at Orangetheory Fitness and is passionate about helping people take control of their health and learn to run. This will be her first marathon, and she has run two half marathons and completed one doubles HYROX before this race. She grew up overweight and hated running, so she is so excited to have gotten this far and tackle 26.2 so close to home! As an aspiring registered dietitian, she is extremely passionate about the fund for public health and is so excited to represent us during the race!
✨ Sophie’s Fun Fact ✨Sophie is gluten-free, has her own GF sourdough starter, and bakes her own bread. She also loves hikes and crafts! 🍞🥾
Brigit Gardner (she/her)
Brigit is mental health counselor with Richmond University Medical Center. Brigit initially got into running after college during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2026 she will be running her 6th marathon and 3rd NYC marathon with FPHNYC. Brigit has run the NYC, Chicago and London marathon and hopes to compete all 6 of the marathon majors!
✨ Brigit’s Fun Fact ✨ Brigit loves to travel and has been to almost 30 different countries! She would love to visit every continent one day. 🌍✈️
Kristie Huynh (she/her)
Kristie is an Internal Auditor at Western Digital. Her favorite part about running is the obligatory post-run coffee and pastry with friends and good company! One of her favorite running memories is when she and her friends made their own butter by running with heavy whipping cream in their vests.
✨ Kristie’s Fun Fact ✨ Food is Kristie’s favorite love language! 🍝❤️
Maria Javier (she/her)
Maria is an abolitionist social worker in training with experience advocating for justice involved individuals, survivors of domestic violence and individuals navigating homelessness with substance use. For Maria, being an abolitionist social worker means committing to involving communities in the work intended to support them, shifting power over to those underserved, and concentrating on dismantling oppressive systems. Maria works as an overnight coordinator at Trinity Place Shelter while pursuing her Masters in Social Work at Hunter Silberman School of Social Work. When she’s not studying, Maria enjoys running and spending time with her two cats. This will be her third time running the NYC Marathon.
✨ Maria’s Fun Fact ✨ Maria’s great-great grandfather founded the town that she’s from in Dominican Republic! 🏘️
Emmett Madsen (he/him)
Emmett Madsen is a strategist who moves with purpose, both in his career and on the pavement. As a member of the Real Estate Strategy Team at Waymo, Emmett operates at the intersection of innovation and infrastructure, fueled by a lifelong fascination with trains, planes, and autonomous vehicles.
A former cross-country runner, Emmett has maintained his pace with a decade of competitive races. He is now channeling that endurance toward completing his second marathon. Beyond the miles, he is driven by a commitment to community health, viewing every run as an opportunity to promote well-being and care for those around him.
✨ Emmett’s Fun Fact ✨ Emmett was a beach lifeguard during the summers in high school and college! 🏖️🛟
Eugene Massey (they/them)
Eugene Massey works as a Climate and Air Project Manager at the NYC Health Department. They first became familiar with the Fund when they were onboarded through the Fund as an intern on the Health Department food safety team. This internship launched their career in the Environmental Health Division at the Health Department and allowed the Food Safety team to continue its work despite internal administrative challenges. This partnership between the NYC Health Department and FPHNYC highlights the benefits of organizations like the Fund in supporting governmental work.
Outside of a professional connection to FPHNYC they are passionate about exercise and pushing their physical limits. They ran track and cross-country in high school and are celebrating three years of recovery since a knee surgery. They are running the NYC Marathon to honor how far they have come and all that their body is capable of doing.
They are so excited to be running the marathon with FPHNYC!
✨ Eugene’s Fun Fact ✨ Eugene has a dog named Roxy who does agility and is joining them on some of their training runs! 🐶🏃♂️
Juliet Muzere (she/her)
Juliet Muzere is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in the Philadelphia area. When she is not at work, she is busy running after her 2-year old son Salvador affectionately known as “Sal”. The last time that Juliet ran this hard was when she completed the Boston Marathon in 2007 (on behalf of a charity). She “retired” from racing shortly after. Over the last several years she has cheered on her partner Joaquin and close friend Lanvin as they have conquered multiple half marathons and marathons. Both of these individuals have been an inspiration to Juliet. At the ripe age of…she he has finally decided to purchase some Hoka’s and come out of retirement to run the biggest race of the world- the NYC Marathon. The biggest prize will not be completing the race but rather helping support FPHNYC as they continue to promote health equity and improve the lives of many individuals in the NYC area.
✨ Juliet’s Fun Fact ✨Juliet can play music by ear! 🎹🎶
Elena Pereira (she/her)
Elena Pereira works in health policy for New York City and is excited to represent FPHNYC. She loves yoga, hiking, and public health! She’s run the Paris marathon and can’t wait to run in her favorite city.
✨ Elena’s Fun Fact ✨ Elena grew up doing ballet and has performed The Nutcracker too many times to count! 🩰🎭
Francesco Rotatori (he/him)
Born and raised in Italy, endurance sports (swimming, running) have always been part of his life. He became a cardiologist with great interest in exercise physiology, moved to New York where he lives with wife and 4 kids (age ranging from graduating from college to 6th grade). Dedicated and passionate physician for work, his life is fully lived between serving the community and challenging his body and mind with sports. Passionate coach for his kid’s team (he tried many sports, most successful and volleyball coach), in his spare time he trains for individual long distance sports (triathlon, swimming, and running, where he has completed 16 marathon, 12 of which are NYC).
✨ Francesco’s Fun Fact ✨ Francesco has run the last 12 NYC Marathons in a row! 🏃♂️🏅
Melinda Santiago (she/her)
Melinda Santiago is a Post Placement Counselor and dedicated runner based in New York City. She has completed two marathons, including one she created and ran through NYC during her mother’s final year battling colon cancer—an experience that deeply shaped her relationship with running. For Melinda, running is more than a physical challenge; it is a way to process grief, build resilience, and stay connected to the people and moments that matter most.
In February, Melinda underwent surgery for endometriosis, further strengthening her commitment to movement as a form of healing and empowerment. As a Latina, she is passionate about representation in wellness spaces and believes in the importance of equitable access to healthcare for all communities. She is proud to run with the Fund for Public Health NYC, using each mile to support healthier, more equitable communities across the city.
✨ Melinda’s Fun Fact ✨ In her free time, Melinda likes to capture moments through photography, solve sudoku puzzles, and read! 📸📚
Ayana Smith (she/her)
Ayana Smith is a wife and proud girl mom to three daughters. She has served as both a middle school teacher and principal, dedicating her career to education and student success. She currently works as a Partner Success Manager for Zearn, a non profit organization focused on making all kids math kids.
In 2026, Ayana turned 40 and set a gold personal goal: complete the NYC Marathon. This milestone represents more than a race, it reflects her commitment to growth, resilience and leading by example. Her motivation is rooted in showing her daughters that with determination, discipline, and belief, anything is possible at any age.
Through her marathon journey, she hopes to inspire her family and others to continue dreaming big and pursuing those dreams with intention.
She is especially honored to run in support of the Fund for Public Health in NYC, combining her passion for community impact with her personal fitness journey.
✨ Ayana’s Fun Fact ✨In high school, Ayana once competed on a couples game show on BET’s 106 & Park with her best friend. They didn’t win, but they were on TV! 📺🎉
Lanvin Taylor (he/him)
Perseverance would be the best word to describe Lanvin Taylor. An early college mentor gave him this name after observing the manner in which he conducted himself and solved problems. Lanvin is not a natural runner and initially running for him was associated with punishment and pain. This would all change after he injured his arm in late 2019. No longer able to play basketball, he found running as an outlet and way to remain active while his injury healed. Ultimately, he fell in love with the goal setting, problem solving, and physical benefits that running offered. Lanvin will typically run several half marathons each year and when healthy a full marathon yearly. As a physician, he has made wellness and physical activity an area of focus. He is hoping to persevere once again and share this beautiful marathon experience with all the runners, volunteers, and supporters that make the special race possible.
✨ Lanvin’s Fun Fact ✨Lanvin loves studying languages! At one point, he was able to speak conversationally in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and French! 🗣️🌍
Madalyn Thunell (she/her)
Madalyn is an avid runner and passionate advocate for using movement as a source of empowerment and growth. She balances her professional career with an active lifestyle centered around running and cycling, which has become a meaningful part of how she connects with herself and her community. Now training for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, Madi is preparing to complete her fourth marathon—an exciting milestone that reflects her commitment, discipline, and love for the sport. Outside of running, Madi enjoys spending time outdoors, whether hiking or exploring new places and loves to travel whenever she can. She also has a creative side and enjoys crafting in her free time. Through her marathon journey, Madalyn hopes to inspire others to challenge themselves, embrace the process, and discover their own strength—both on and off the course.
✨ Madalyn’s Fun Fact ✨ Madalyn is left-handed! ✋🖐️
Alexa Van Komen (she/her)
Alexa Van Komen lives in New York City, where she works in finance. She began running a few years ago and has since completed seven marathons, including four of the World Marathon Majors (Sydney, New York, Tokyo, and London).
Running has become an important part of her routine, offering both a physical challenge and a way to reset outside of a busy professional life. Alexa is especially motivated by supporting meaningful causes, particularly those that impact her community, and is proud to be running the 2026 New York City Marathon in support of FPHNYC.
Outside of running, she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends.
✨ Alexa’s Fun Fact ✨ Alexa recently learned how to knit and is working on her first wearable piece! 🧶🧵
Jamie Vera (he/him)
Jamie Vera is a native New Yorker. Jamie’s way to stay active and quickly developed a deeper appreciation for the discipline, consistency, and mental strength it requires. Over the past year, Jamie has trained for multiple races, including a half marathon, and is now taking on the challenge of a full marathon as the next major milestone.
Outside of running, Jamie enjoys staying active, exploring new fitness goals, and learning more about performance, recovery, and overall health. The decision to run with FPHNYC is driven not only by personal ambition but also by a desire to contribute to a meaningful cause and be part of a supportive community.
For Jamie, running represents more than just crossing a finish line—it’s about pushing limits, building resilience, and using each mile as an opportunity to grow both physically and mentally while making a positive impact beyond the race.
✨ Jamie’s Fun Fact ✨ This year, Jamie set a personal challenge to run 29 kilometers on his 29th birthday—just for fun—and actually went through with it! 🏃♂️🎂
Victoria Yox (she/her)
Tori is a New York City-based Human Resources professional focused on the people and communities around her. She has completed several half marathons and is now training for her first full marathon, focusing on long-term endurance and consistency. Outside of running, Tori enjoys exploring New York City on foot, often alongside her husband and their dog Rufus, enjoying long walks across different neighborhoods and boroughs. She also enjoys traveling and staying active through strength training and yoga. She is currently pursuing a part-time master’s degree in Social-Organizational Psychology at Columbia University, reflecting her interest in how people and organizations thrive.
For her, marathon training is not only a personal challenge, but also an opportunity to contribute to initiatives that improve access to care and strengthen communities across the city she calls home. She is proud to be running the TCS NYC Marathon in support of the Fund for Public Health in NYC.
✨ Victoria’s Fun Fact ✨ I have an 80-pound hound/German Shepherd mix 🐶🐾 who’s hard to miss on the streets of NYC 🗽🚶♀️!
Nicholas Zangrillo (he/him)
Nicholas Zangrillo is a Performance Analyst at Silver Point Capital and a Staten Island native who is taking on his first marathon in support of FPHNYC. He ran his first half marathon in 2024, where he developed an appreciation for the discipline and endurance the sport requires.
Nicholas balances training with other hobbies, including soccer, golf, and snowboarding. He enjoys the energy and clarity of each run, which keeps him motivated through training.
For Nicholas, running with FPHNYC is a way to support a meaningful cause while pushing himself toward a personal goal. On race day, he’s focused on giving his best effort and, of course, looking forward to a well-earned feast afterward.
✨ Nicholas’s Fun Fact ✨ This will be Nicholas’s first marathon! 🏃♂️🎉
Gabriella Zappala (she/her)
Gabriella Zappala is a Quality Improvement Project Specialist at MetroPlus Health Plan based in New York City. She has been running for years, originally as a form of exercise, but over time it has become much more than that—a consistent outlet for mental health, stress relief, and a space she truly enjoys for herself.
Outside of work and running, Gabriella enjoys reading and exploring New York City, taking advantage of everything the city has to offer, from neighborhood walks to discovering new spots and experiences.
Running remains a grounding and motivating part of her life. She runs both for enjoyment and fitness, but also with a personal goal in mind: to complete the New York City Marathon. As someone who has lived, worked, and loved New York City for many years, this goal represents both a personal milestone and a meaningful way to celebrate her connection to the city she calls home.
✨ Gabriella’s Fun Fact ✨ Gabriella averages reading about a book a week! 📚