Running the New York City Marathon

Hoang Anh Thi Lee took on the huge challenge of making the New York City marathon her first and raising $7,664 for WaterAid!

She decided to fundraise for WaterAid while doing it because, as she put it, “Clean water and sanitation are basic needs and I strongly believe that all people are entitled to them.”

She chose the New York City Marathon because she loves the city and the people.  She also thought that running through the five boroughs would be an exciting way to experience the city (outside of Manhattan!).  She had heard that the support from the crowds was unrivaled (and it was!).

She says, “It was my first marathon and though it was extremely tough, I enjoyed every minute.  At the start line, the atmosphere was electric – with helicopters hovering above, the crowds buzzing, people stretching, runners phoning loved ones – everybody eagerly anticipating the start.”

Hoang Anh convinced her friends, family and colleagues to sponsor her by sending out lots of emails, creating a site on Facebook and then setting up a Facebook group, setting up a FirstGiving page and by updating everyone about how her training was going.

Her family was also extremely generous matching anything she had raised.

The New York City Marathon is one of the world's great road races, drawing more than 100,000 applicants.  The race attracts many world-class professional athletes, not just for the prize money, but also for the chance to excel in the media capital of the world before two million cheering spectators and 315 million worldwide television viewers.

The course covers all five boroughs of New York City.  Along with the Boston Marathon and Chicago Marathon, it is among the pre-eminent long-distance annual running events in the United States and is one of the World Marathon Majors.

Do you think you could run and raise funds for WaterAid America too? 

Find out how to set up your own online fundraising page with FirstGiving.