For the second year in a row, I have the honor of joining Team ALS to run the 2026 NYC Marathon in memory of Patti Duff Long.

We recently crossed the two-year anniversary of Patti’s passing from this cruel disease. Not a day goes by that we aren’t reminded of the incredible person she was. Her memory continues to inspire us to live life fully, carrying forward the same brightness, warmth, and joy she expressed through both her life and her incredible art.

Running this year for Team ALS is deeply meaningful to me. It is about honoring Patti, supporting those currently battling ALS, and contributing to the ongoing fight for a cure.

In the months leading up to the race, I have committed to raising $5,500 for Team ALS, with every dollar going directly toward critical research and patient services. Your support would truly mean the world to me.

Together, we can honor Patti’s legacy and help move closer to a world without ALS.

Thank you for being part of this journey!

Dylan Cooley

About ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive disease of the nervous system that affects cells in the brain and spinal cord. Presently, there is no known cure for ALS.

• Every ninety minutes, someone is diagnosed with the disease, and someone passes away from it.
• 90% of ALS cases occur without any known family history or genetic cause. The remaining 10% of ALS cases are inherited through a mutated gene with a known connection to the disease.
• 55 is the average age of onset with most people who develop ALS between the ages of 40 and 70. However, cases of the disease do occur in people in their twenties and thirties.
• ALS is 20% more common in men than women. However, with increasing age, the incidence of ALS is more equal between men and women.