Move For Jenn Grant Recipient, Nicola Burg, Runs the NYC Marathon
On November 3rd, Move For Jenn grant recipient, Nicola Burg, ran in the NYC Marathon. Nicola was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer in her right foot which ultimately led to the incredible team at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Move For Jenn supporting her to make a life altering decision in 2021. Through an incredible amount of mental and physical fortitude, Nicola ran the 2024 NYC marathon as a below the knee amputee!
Below are Nicola's thoughts that she shared with the Move For Jenn team:
"Running has been a huge part of my physical and mental recovery. Running a marathon was not part of the plan but it was an incredible experience and taught me an amazing way to tap into my strength.
I became cancer-free on December 2, 2021 but had a long road ahead of me. I knew my family and friends still saw me as the same mother, daughter, and friend I had always been but I would often hide the internal struggle that I was facing day to day from them. They would of course reassure me but I did have to figure this out on my own. I knew it would take time to adjust. I just wasn't sure how long it would take. Running showed me that whenever I am facing an adversary, I can find hope in challenging myself.
I started to go for walks, signed up at the gym, and then felt this increasing desire to run again. This is where the amazing organization Move For Jenn came in with a running blade and the needed socket as well. I was so grateful to get this prosthetic to give it a shot to run again.
On my runs, I could sort out any nagging anxiety and get the endorphins going. When I first tried out the blade I was so slow, I knew I would have to work hard to relearn how to run. Running is akin to a meditation to me so my first goal was to run without thinking about the mechanics of it all. While I began the process of learning to run again, I had that one friend who loves to sign up for races. So she started to get me to sign up for a 5K and then a 10K, what a half marathon? Sure, let's do it!
The process of training and running became so fun and the mechanics of it all were getting better. One day my friend suggested we run the NYC marathon. I said that sounds insane, let me think about it. I finally said ok but let's keep it to ourselves until I think that I can actually do this. So we did, we kept it a secret until just before race day, and we announced it to our friends and family.
The marathon was such an amazing experience. It was one of the hardest, most rewarding things I have accomplished. It gave me so much confidence and while I may have struggled with self-image when I started to run on the blade. I started to not care anymore about how I appeared and started to appreciate the process. I started to use it as motivation to get faster. Run better, and finish the race. I learned how lucky I am to be able to do this. Next up another half and then maybe Jenn will join me next year for the 2025 marathon!"
Being the incredible human she is, Nicola asked for donations to Move For Jenn in honor of her marathon run, helping to raise over $5,600 for our foundation! We cannot wait to share more about who these funds will help.
Are you a sarcoma amputee in need of an activewear prosthetic? Apply for a grant through Move For Jenn here!