Marathon Runners Take to the Big Apple to Raise Awareness of Liver Disease

2026 TCS New York City Marathon is Sunday, November 1st

NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- American Liver Foundation (ALF) is proud to once again be a member of the TCS New York City Marathon Charity Program, for the 2026 race, which takes place on Sunday, November 1. Runners will complete 26.2 miles through New York City's five boroughs.

"ALF is grateful to once again be an official charity partner of the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon," said Lorraine Stiehl, Chief Executive Officer, American Liver Foundation. "We have an amazing group of runners who continue to raise awareness and funds for the nearly 100 million people in America affected by some form of liver disease."

All funds raised go towards ALF's mission to support those affected by liver disease. The ALF marathon team is made up of runners with varying levels of experience from novice to advanced, most of whom have a connection to liver disease.

Matthew Luneburg is the 2026 New York City Marathon Liver Life Challenge Team Captain that runs in honor of his father who is celebrating 14 years cancer-free from liver cancer. After a yearlong battle in Memphis, Tennessee that included many 2 a.m. ambulance calls and lots of tears and scary days and nights, Matthew's dad received the gift of life – a liver transplant! "Too many kids are waiting up for their mom and dad to come home. The American Liver Foundation served as a beacon of hope when that kid was me. I'll be running those 26.2 miles for them, this city, and (of course) my dad – the Spirit of New York," said Matthew Luneburg. 

Additional runners on ALF's 30-member team include: 

• Jennie Cataldo: She's running for the first time in the NYC Marathon on Team ALF. As an Outreach Program Manager for Lahey Hospital Clinic's Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Disease, Jennie understands what transplant patients go through and just wants to raise awareness of liver disease and the importance of liver transplantation.
• Kathleen Dorfman: She's running for the first time in the NYC Marathon in honor of her nephew who was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia and received a liver transplant at 10 months old.
• Megan Dunn: Running for the first time in the NYC Marathon, Megan has been a liver transplant and living donor social worker at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Transplant Institute for the last four years. She wants to support her patients by raising funds for ALF that provides essential support to those with liver disease.
• Hannah Fleming: She is running in her first marathon with Team ALF to raise awareness about liver disease. Diagnosed with Biliary Atresia, a rare liver disease, she received a life-saving liver transplant at eight months old. Today, she's a liver transplant operating room nurse who finds it incredible that she gets to work with transplant patients.
• Kelsea Kim: Running her first NYC Marathon with Team ALF, Kelsea was diagnosed at 21 years old with Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) and eventually primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and ulcerative colitis (UC). She runs for those living with liver disease as well as for herself because it grounds her and lets her know her body is strong and capable.
• Sidney Monday and Steve Nugent: They are both running for the first time in the NYC Marathon on Team ALF. Steve, a two-time liver recipient with an autoimmune liver disease, runs in honor of his amazing donors and raises awareness for organ donation. Steve has run the Boston Marathon on ALF's team for three years.
• Saylor Smith: She's running for the first time with Team ALF in honor of her mother who lost her battle with cholangiocarcinoma after being diagnosed at 33 years old.
• Keith Tully: He's running in the NYC marathon for the first time with Team ALF, and he has run in the Boston Marathon for 13 years with Team ALF. Tully, diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, received a lifesaving transplant from a living donor.
• David Weston: Running in the NYC Marathon for the 3^rd year on Team ALF and has run for two years in the NYC Half Marathon with Team ALF. He runs in honor of his father who exhibited so much strength in his fight against a liver disease that eventually took his life. David is inspired by his father's strength throughout his journey and has been honoring his memory for over 20 years by running in marathons.

Learn more about ALF's 2026 TCS New York City Marathon team and support their 26.2 mile run at https://liverlifechallenge.org/tcsnycmarathon/.

About the American Liver Foundation
American Liver Foundation (ALF) is a national community of patients, caregivers and medical professionals dedicated to helping people improve their liver health. Providing guidance and life-saving resources, we are a beacon for the 100 million Americans affected by liver disease. We advocate for patients and families, fund medical research, and educate the public about liver wellness and disease prevention. We bring people together through our educational programs and events and create a network of support that lasts a lifetime. ALF is the largest organization focused on all liver diseases and the trusted voice for patients and families living with liver disease. Celebrating 50 years of impact, leading the next 50 years forward. For more information, please visit www.liverfoundation.org or call: 1.800.GO.LIVER (800-465-4837).

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Media Contacts: 
Julie Kimbrough 
[email protected]
Direct dial: 475-295-6227
Karla Thomas
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Direct dial: 773.575.9477

SOURCE American Liver Foundation