Challenge Yourself for a Cause: Running with the Lymphoma Research Foundation

Running a half-marathon or a full marathon is hard enough on its own, but doing it to raise money for an organization might seem even trickier: how do you raise the money, while also training for a race? But when running for the Lymphoma Research Foundation, we’ll help you along every step along the way—in every sense of the word.

The Lymphoma Research Foundation hosts and partners with endurance events across the country, offering athletes the opportunity to train, challenge themselves, and fundraise to support the Foundation’s mission. Endurance athletes on the Foundation’s team raise vital funds that help power our work to eradicate lymphoma while also getting guaranteed entry to several competitive races across the country.

Getting to the Starting Line

If you are considering running for the Foundation, the first step is to visit our endurance events page and fill out our Endurance Events Interest form. Here, you will be able to see which walks and runs the Foundation is currently offering. We typically offer everything from marathons and half-marathons to shorter races like 5Ks or 10Ks across the country, so there’s something for everyone.

After filling out the interest form, a Foundation staff member will be in touch with registration steps and further details. Finally, you can sign up on the race website, create a fundraising page, and start training!

Fueling Your Fundraising

When building your fundraising page, there are some key things that you should include. It is important to explain why you have decided to support the Foundation and your personal connection to our mission. Are you running in honor of a loved one? Have you been impacted by lymphoma yourself? Are you a care partner to someone with lymphoma, or a healthcare worker who cares for patients touched by this disease? Tell us all about your experience and share your story!

Once you have your ‘why’, you can also include some general information about lymphoma and the Foundation to help your audience understand the impact their gift can make. For example:

Did you know every 5 minutes, someone is diagnosed with lymphoma? Nearly one million people in the United States are living with, or in remission from, a form of lymphoma – the most common type of blood cancer.

I’ve registered for the NYC Marathon to support the Lymphoma Research Foundation. I hope you will join me in the fight against lymphoma and consider donating to support lifesaving lymphoma research and support services. Every dollar brings us closer to a cure.

The Lymphoma Research Foundation’s mission is to realize the promise of science to eradicate lymphoma and serve the community touched by this disease. Today, the Foundation touches more than two million people worldwide annually by providing vital resources, support services, and hope. The Foundation also invests millions of dollars in lifesaving research, bringing us closer to breakthrough treatments and, ultimately, the day we eradicate lymphoma.

Thank you for your support. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

Training for Success

Never ran a race before? That’s totally alright!

From 5Ks to marathons, we are cheering you on from the first training run ’til race day. We even have a running coach, Tom Gudas, MD, who can answer any questions you may have during the training process. A passionate and seasoned physician with a heart for both health and fitness who’s run over 20 marathons himself (his personal best time is 2:36), he’s the perfect guide on your running journey.

More information about Dr. Gudas can be found under the New York City Marathon page.

Why Join the Team?

When you run for an organization like the Lymphoma Research Foundation, you won’t just feel proud when you cross the finish line. You’ll also have the knowledge that you’ve made a meaningful impact on the lymphoma community through your hard work and efforts.

Here are some additional benefits of running with the Foundation:

A personalized training plan: The Foundation offers a running coach that can help you with anything from creating a running plan to navigating an injury.
A team to rally with you: You can count on having the entire lymphoma community, along with your fellow Foundation runners, cheering you on along the way.
A meaningful impact: You’ll be raising awareness and critical funds that make a major impact on those affected by lymphoma.
Access to selective races: Highly selective races, such as the New York City marathon or the Boston marathon typically require a specific finish time from a previous marathon or winning a lottery draw to qualify. When you run with the Foundation, all you need to do to get guaranteed entry into these high-profile races is reach your fundraising goal.

Tips & Tricks for Success

Share your fundraising on social media to spread your story and raise awareness with your followers.
Get your friends and family involved! Ask them to support you by donating to your fundraiser, sharing your story with people they know, and coming to cheer you on race day! Encourage them to wear purple on the big day to show their Foundation pride.
Your place of work might match donations or be willing to contribute. Reach out to your HR department to see if they have a matching donation program.
Connect with your fellow runners to cheer each other on using apps like Strava.
If you would like to share your story with a larger audience, consider writing a Story of Hope. These stories from lymphoma patients, survivors, and care partners are published on our website and shared on our social media channels.

Get Started

Success Stories

Chris

Diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma at just 17 years old, Chris was told that he only had six months left to live and had to undergo a grueling treatment regimen, including radiation. He was living a very active and healthy life but realized that cancer can happen to anyone. 28 years later, he’s surviving and thriving – and getting ready to give back for others like him.

In November 2025, Chris ran the New York City Marathon for the Lymphoma Research Foundation. He explains: “I survived because medicine continues to evolve, because doctors continue to practice, and because people before me believed in funding research that made my treatment possible. Now I want to pay that forward.”

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