Connective Issues Winter 2025

Every Step Counts

The race made its way through all five boroughs, starting on Staten Island and ending in Manhattan’s Central Park. With over 55,000 total finishers representing 137 countries. The number of applicants to race surpassed 165,000 athletes worldwide, with Team Victory shining through with 10 committed runners – each with personal awareness and fundraising goals that motivated them to take part. Ryan McCarthy tallied the highest total, raising more than $18,800. Ryan became involved in the race after learning about Team Victory from close friend and Foundation Board Member Sinclair Li. “I was ecstatic when Sinclair approached me earlier this year about running the New York Marathon in support of the Marfan Foundation,” said Ryan. “It was the least I could do to support such a great cause. While great progress has been made, there is still a long way to go.” The VEDS Movement was well represented at the marathon by several runners, including Morgan Jozwiak, shattering her $3,500 goal by raising $5,141 for the cause. Morgan runs for her son, Cameron, who has VEDS, her late husband who passed away from an aortic dissection at the age of 21-years-old, and the entire VEDS community. Her goal was to “raise the funds needed for research grants, provide resources for the community, and to get Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome to be a globally well-known condition,” said Morgan. Monica Aliaga-Laud also surpassed her goal, raising more than $4,200. Monica, whose son Milan has Loeys-Dietz syndrome, ran to honor him and “all LDS warriors, their families and friends that sacrifice so much.” Other Team Victory members included Meg Barnes, Jorge De la Garza, Pablo De la Garza, Morgan Mayer, Andrew Mitchell, Meredith Niedringhaus, and Melissa Russo. TEAM VICTORY STRIDES FOR CHANGE The Foundation’s Team Victory laced up their shoes to run in the TCS New York City Marathon on November 3, raising $64,000 towards making a di ff erence in the lives of those living with Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, VEDS, and other genetic aortic and vascular conditions.

 Team Victory members Morgan Mayer and Andrew Mitchell cross the finish line

 Monica Aliaga-Laud  Ryan McCarthy

If you would like to be a part of Team Victory in the future, please contact Alyssa Aiello at aaiello@marfan.org.

 Morgan Jozwiak

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