Collegiate Times

The 37th annual marathon on Oct. 28 will stretch for 26.2 miles through Northern Virginia and Washington DC. This will be Gunter’s first time ever running a marathon, and she is excited about the challenge and potential future opportunities.

“In terms of running I am not necessarily focusing on a goal time. I’m just hoping to stay strong throughout the marathon and complete the race,” Gunter said. “I’m a little nervous but really excited — I’m ready for it to be race day.”

“Assuming this race goes well, I think there’s potential for future races and fundraising efforts through running,” Gunter said. “It’s something that I would recommend to people who enjoy running or exercising and it’s a great way to raise awareness and raise money.”

Gunter is also enjoying her first experience working with PDF.

“I’d like to be more involved in the future, they seem to be a really great organization,” Gunter said.

She hopes to stay connected with PDF by attending seminars or webinars offered by the organization about the ongoing research efforts for Parkinson’s.

Overall, this event has been a very influential experience for Gunter, and she encourages other students to get involved with raising funds and awareness for causes that are important to them.

“When someone you love is affected by a disease, I think it’s really important to show continued support for them and to garner the support of friends and family to make sure they know that you’re thinking of them, supporting them, and honoring them” Gunter said. "The race has also provided me with the opportunity to try to help contribute to future research efforts so that maybe people won’t have to live with this disease in the future."

To those looking for ways to get involved, Gunter said “contacting friends and family and soliciting their support is very effective because people have a personal connection with what you’re experiencing.”

Bresnahan similarly encourages people to get involved with a cause they care about.

“Anyone can make a difference," she said. "Everyone can find something that works best for them and contribute in some way.” 

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A version of this article appeared in the Oct 26 issue of the Collegiate Times.