“That’s what David, my husband [and brain tumor survivor] always says: ’Don’t Stop Believin’!’  And when I think about it, we’ve had it easy; we still have David.  [He] is always saying, ‘What fun is life if you cannot laugh?”

We are thrilled to welcome Howard Bookstaff to our crew of dedicated runners on this, our second adventure to the ING New York City Marathon; thanks for being a part of Team McGraw!

“My husband, Jeff – (lost to a brain tumor in November 2007) – tested the limits of what others believed possible for a brain tumor patient and inspired his family, friends, doctors, and other cancer patients with his strength, determination and quiet humility.”

“I took care of my mom for 14 months while she was sick with a GBM [brain tumor].  It is my great honor to continue [her] fight to give hope to future patients and their families.  She is my inspiration…and I know she’ll be there pushing me through every mile.”

“The enthusiasm of Team McGraw is contagious, and I am excited to toe the line in New York. Running a marathon is no comparison to battling cancer, but every step of the way will be in honor and support of Kenne and Alexis.” 

“[As a caregiver,] I know only too well the visceral fear and loneliness associated with the brain trauma of a loved one.   These feelings resurface when watching friends live through the challenges of brain cancer.  Quality of life for the entire family is so important when faced with such enormous challenges."

“I love to run, would like to run a marathon, but only wanted to do it if I could use it as a way to support a good cause.  After watching my mom’s best friend fight and eventually lose her battle with brain cancer…what better opportunity!”

“When I saw Team McGraw at the Country Music Marathon, quite a bit of emotion was stirred up that compelled me to contact Team McGraw.  It is apparent that Tug’s attitude and spirit are captured by those involved in the Foundation…and will continue to positively impact many patients and caregivers well into the future.”

Team McGraw welcomes Bill to his first marathon as a runner with our team; he is running on behalf of his mother Paula Lucas, who passed away last year of a brain tumor.  “This is a wonderful cause,” he says, “near and dear to my heart.”

“I was brought up to appreciate what I was given and to give back to those less fortunate than I.  Running the ING New York City Marathon with Team McGraw will enable me to do this...to show 30,000 runners and two million spectators that the Tug McGraw Foundation is a charity I believe in.”

“I met Jennifer and Jeff in Nashville [at the Country Music Marathon] and really loved their enthusiasm for…well, everything!  As I want to make my last NYC marathon meaningful, I thought that Team McGraw would be a great group of people to get to know and run with.”

“When [my wife] Jenny decided to run her first of three marathons in 2004 after having her first brain surgery to remove a malignant tumor…I decided from that day on that I was going to run every race with her so I could support her every step of the way.”

“My goal with Team McGraw is to put a face to brain cancer.  I can do this, because I am a brain cancer survivor myself – and a fighter.  This will be my fifth marathon.  I ran my first three all on chemo…and I run all of them with a spirit and a motivation to live.”

Mark, Tug’s son, recently led the first group of Team McGraw runners to participate in the Philadelphia Distance Run; he now joins us in New York City.  “I am happy to join Team McGraw [as we] support my father’s vision for quality of life research.”

“Being a part of our first team to run in New York City in 2007, to see the commitment of our runners from across the country, and to share in the passion and the stories of so many served through our efforts – I simply can’t wait to saddle up with this dedicated group again.”

“Training for this marathon will be a challenge, but it will be nothing compared to the struggle that my mom [diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2002] faced every day for two years.  Her courage has inspired me to do this, and I can’t wait to make her proud.”

“I never thought I would be crazy enough to run a marathon.  Like so many others, however, I find the motivation, the drive, the inspiration to share in this journey on behalf of a lost member of our family to this disease…and I enjoy sharing in the strength of this team.”

“At age 33, (my fiancé) Jimmy was scheduled to run his first ING New York City Marathon in 2007, but his dream was cut short after two grand mal seizures; tumor growth in the cortex and fourth ventricle took away his ability to walk and resulted in his death seven weeks later.  I will cross the finish line…for him.”

“This is really my chance to make a difference for those fighting this terrible battle, and I am on a vengeance! I have been handed an incredible opportunity to help others battling fight the fight against brain tumors; thank you all for your bigheartedness!”

We are thrilled to welcome Garrett Rini as yet another committed runner for Team McGraw at the ING New York City Marathon.  This is Garrett’s first event as a member of our team…and “ya gotta believe,” we are happy to have him.

Lauren takes to the street with Team McGraw for two very personal reasons: she lost both her father and grandmother to brain tumors.  As to the heroes in her own family, she states “the director of the Duke brain cancer center operated not only on Tug McGraw, and more recently Senator Ted Kennedy…but also on my grandmother.”

“During the course of my mom’s battle with a brain tumor, I became friends with many affected by this illness.  My family and I are so excited to be a part of this team and raise money for such a great cause; I can’t bring [my mom] back, but I can still make her proud!”

“I have been fortunate to hear of the good work that the Tug McGraw Foundation has extended on to the community, and when I saw that they were sponsoring a team for the New York City Marathon, I knew it was an effort that I wanted to be a part of.”

Mark Kaplan, a member of our first Team McGraw marathon team in NYC 2007, raved about his experience to his buddy Matt, who was not about to let 2008 slip by.  In Matt’s words, what better reason than “to raise money and awareness for a great cause and participate in an incredible marathon?” 

“It has been a lifelong goal [of mine] to complete the New York City Marathon…and this is a great opportunity to do so, and, at the same time, raise money for a great cause.”

Susan’s husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2006, and she knows that they are not along.  “It has been amazing,” she says.  “Since Eric has become bald, and as we talk more about brain tumors, the more we realize that so many lives have been affected by them.”

“Last year, I was a part of Team McGraw; unfortunately, I injured myself three weeks before the marathon and was unable to run.  I did, however, meet an amazing group of people all running for the same cause – and I am happy to be joining them again this year."

“Last year my sisters, Nadene and JoAnn, ran for the team.  It was a great experience for our entire family.  We were at the party after the race and were very proud of the entire team.  I decided [then] that I would run with my family in 2008 in support of the Foundation…and in memory of our mother.”

“Our daughter Hannah lost her battle with brain cancer at age 5.  [When Team McGraw was formed], I decided that if Hannah could endure her aggressive chemotherapy with grace…then I could get up off the sofa and run a marathon.  So I am.”