I am honored to be back with TT! I'm fundraising for 2 marathons! I'm running Boston & 6 days later I'm running the London Marathon! I have raised $130,000 thanks to all of you.
I became involved with TT in 2012, after losing my dad from his 3rd stroke. He was only 56. For most of my life, I remember my dad being sick. He had many complications from diabetes & glaucoma. Regardless of what he was going through, his personality always shined. He was the life of the party, interesting, smart & funny.

In summer 2006, he was sitting at the table & dropped his cigarette (a healthy lifestyle is important as 80% of strokes are preventable) & he was confused. My mom was sitting with him & she immediately recognized the signs & called 911. My dad received care quickly & the doctors said how lucky he was. After this stroke, life continued to be difficult. My mom was balancing work & being a caregiver & I helped when I could, but was working, playing sports, & getting started on my senior year.

In May 2007, my dad was learning to walk again to attend my graduation. One night, my mom was at work & I went out. I was not gone long, but when I came home, dad didn't look right & his face was drooping. I asked him to put the bed up & he couldn't follow simple commands. When he spoke he was slurring. This stroke was much bigger & we prepared for the worst. I remember sitting on the floor of the hospital crying. One of the most exciting weeks of my life (prom, senior night, graduation) turned into a nightmare. 3 weeks later, my dad woke up from the coma. He was completely blind at this point & paralyzed on the left side. His cognitive function was mostly intact, though he was not the same person.

The next 4 1/2 years were a blur. I changed my college plans and went to Salem State, so I could live at home & help. My dad came home for a short time & I'm still not sure how my mom balanced taking care of him & working. We laugh now about some of the memories, but these were some of the most grueling years.

From 2007-2011, my dad spent more time in the hospital & I continued to go to class & would try to stop at his rehab daily & every day my mom would drive to Salem & then back to Waltham to work. These years were filled with many scares & so much trauma. My dad started having periods of going unresponsive & no one was noticing these were TIAs (mini strokes). In Dec. 2011, my dad was having dialysis & he suffered a stroke during it. Within 24 hours, he was declared brain dead. After wishing & praying that he would come out of it, we realized there was no coming back. On Dec. 19, 2011 my dad was removed from life support & passed away. I was not able to say goodbye to him & was not able to thank him for sticking around those extra years.

I arrived back at home that evening & felt lost. I emailed the director of TT & asked about joining. There were no spots left & they encouraged me to reach out again the following year. I did & the rest is history.

I ran my first Boston as a part of TT in 2013 & my life has never been the same. The team was able to give me a purpose. I'm able to keep my dad's memory alive while also raising money that is helping so many people. I'm able to bring awareness & I feel like I'm making a difference. TT has allowed me to take one of the worst things that has happened in my life & turn it into something positive. The loss of my dad is something that will never go away, but TT has made me stronger. Just like how Tedy had his comeback, I had mine. Being surrounded by other caregivers & stroke survivors is inspirational.
This year is extra special as I am also running in memory of my friend and TT alumni, Emily Dilworth. Her energy was contagious & she was a force. Some of my favorite memories are Saturday morning car rides with her into the city for training. We made plans to run together again, and she was excited for her Boston Marathon comeback in 2025. This all changed this year when Emily passed away in March. A mother, wife, friend, & one of the most amazing people to walk this earth. My dad will always be the heart and foundation of my "why", but this year Emily is also my "why." I will take every step for her & I know she will be with me.

The mission of Tedy's Team is to raise awareness for stroke and heart disease while supporting survivors on their journey, giving them a means for a comeback!

Tedy's Team was originally founded in 2005, when Tedy Bruschi, former linebacker for the New England Patriots suffered a stroke shortly after winning his 3rd Super Bowl and just days after returning from his first Pro Bowl. to learn more about who we are, please see our website, www.tedysteam.org.

We are honored to be part of the Official Charity Program of the TCS NYC Marathon for 2023.

New York Road Runners has allowed us to utilize their platform to elevate the awareness of the warning signs of stroke, which are best remembered by using the acronym BE FAST, which stands for: 

• Balance Difficulties
• Eyesight Changes
• Face Drooping
• Arm Weakness
• Speech Difficulties - and if you notice any of those warning signs, it's...
• TIME TO CALL 9-1-1.

Should you ever have any questions about your donation, please reach out to Elizabeth@TedysTeam.org.

Donations to Tedy's Team are non-refundable and fully tax deductible.