My Story…
Running for Will: A Father's Fight Against Cancer
I learned to hate the word "cancer" a long time ago when it claimed the life of my son Will on August 22, 2016. He was 17 years old, about to start his senior year of high school. The grief still visits me unexpectedly, surfacing to challenge me from time to time.
Will loved endurance running, and we had looked forward to running together for many years to come. Since his passing, I run with a small jar of his ashes. I am inspired by how courageously he battled cancer until he ran out of time.
No parent should ever have to run with their child's ashes. That's why I have dedicated myself to doing whatever I can to bring an end to cancer. This dedication includes raising funds for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and taking on the Philadelphia Marathon Patriot Challenge to honor Will's memory and raise awareness of the urgent need to defeat cancer.
The Patriot Challenge consists of running a half marathon and 8K race on Saturday, November 22nd, followed by the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 23rd—a total of 44.26 miles. It will be challenging for me, but as Will would often say: "Never tell me the odds, because I'm going to do it anyway."
I challenge you to donate as much as you can to AACR and not worry about the odds. Together, we can make a difference in this fight that no family should have to face alone
Donate to help Joe raise money for 2025 Philadelphia Marathon Weekend’s fundraising campaign.
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 26 | Elizabeth Kane | $52.38 |
| Jul 24 | Musa D | $25.00 |
| Jul 22 | Alicia Toney | $52.38 |
| Jul 22 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
| Jul 21 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
| Jul 21 | Liam W. | $26.19 |
| Jul 21 | Joe and Will Krajewski | $523.75 |
| Jul 21 | Aaron Coe | Undisclosed amount |
| Jul 21 | Anonymous | $50.00 |
| Jul 16 | Bergie | $52.38 |
