This year, I am honored to have been selected to run the New York City Marathon in support of Undue Medical Debt, an organization I’m proud to serve as Vice President of Finance & Administration. Running for Undue brings together two things that matter deeply to me: a personal passion that has grown over time and a mission I believe in deeply.
I come from a family of runners — my two older sisters are accomplished marathoners who inspired me to start running more seriously in 2020, like many others during the early days of the pandemic when running offered both structure and solace. What began as a coping mechanism quickly became something more. Since then, I’ve completed several half marathons and two full marathons, including the 2024 New York City Marathon and the 2025 Berlin Marathon, which I was fortunate to run alongside my sisters.
I was born and raised in Czechia, a European country where medical debt is not something people commonly encounter or worry about in everyday life. Before moving to the United States, I simply wasn’t aware of the scale at which Americans struggle with medical bills and debt. Learning how easily medical debt can accumulate here and how often it prevents people from fully enjoying their lives, pursuing opportunities, or feeling financially secure has been both eye-opening and heartbreaking. Becoming overwhelmed by medical debt is a tragic reality for far too many people, and one that no one should have to face.
This will be my third marathon, and I’m especially excited that it will benefit the organization I work for every day. Through this fundraiser, I’m raising unrestricted dollars for Undue Medical Debt — funds that provide the flexibility to deploy resources wherever they are needed most as we work to eliminate the burden of medical debt and its devastating consequences for individuals and families.
Thank you for supporting this effort — whether by donating, sharing this page, or cheering on November 1. Every step I take and every dollar raised helps move us closer to a future where medical debt no longer stands in the way of a healthy, fulfilling life.
