Heroes on the Run

Logo for NYRR's Heroes on the Run initiative, with the tag line "Honoring Those Who Keep Us Running"

During these challenging times, running can serve as a source of solace and strength. We are proud to recognize everyday heroes who keep running, keep us running, and keep our community safe. New York Road Runners is honoring and showing gratitude for our courageous frontline and essential heroes. These heroic individuals continue to inspire us with their bravery, dedication, and selflessness in caring for other individuals.

For each event in the NYRR Volvo Virtual Racing Series Powered by Strava, NYRR will select a runner who is serving or has served on the frontlines of the pandemic as our “Hero on the Run.”

To Be Selected

If you would like to be featured as one of our Heroes on the Run, fill out this survey form and you might be highlighted in an upcoming story! To be featured, a runner should be:

  • Serving or served as an essential-worker
  • Participating in an NYRR Volvo Virtual Race
  • Open to be featured on NYRR’s digital channels and media outlets 
  • Read Stories About Our Heroes on the Run

    Select a story from the list below about the Hero on the Run from each race of NYRR Volvo Virtual Racing, and follow the hashtag #HeroesOnTheRun on social media to see more about their stories.


    Virtual NYRR Season of Light 5K logo
    Virtual NYRR Season of Light 5K
    Hero on the Run:

    Barbara Vallee on a run, with the Heroes on the Run logo and "Barbara: Flight Attendant" overlaid
    Barbara Vallee is a flight attendant for United Airlines, based out of Newark Airport, who has continued to work on international flights during the pandemic.
    Read her story

     

    Virtual NYRR Ted Corbitt 15K logo
    Virtual NYRR Ted Corbitt 15K
    Hero on the Run:

    Angela Wint celebrating in the middle of a race, with the Heroes on the Run logo and "Angela: Medical Assistant" overlaid
    Angela Wint is a medical assistant in the pediatric cardiology unit at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. Angela was also the final finisher of the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon.
    Read her story

     

    Virtual NYRR Run for Thanks 5K logo
    Virtual NYRR Run for Thanks 5K
    Hero on the Run:

    Vanessa DiServio running in a race, with the Heroes on the Run logo and "Vanessa: Teacher" overlaid
    Vanessa DiServio, a P.E. teacher at Hudson High School of Learning Technologies in Manhattan, helped bring Rising New York Road Runners to her students. This year, Vanessa received a prestigious Big Apple Award, given by the NYC Department of Education.
    Read her story

     

    Virtual Race to Deliver 5K to Benefit God's Love We Deliver logoVirtual Race to Deliver 5K to Benefit God's Love We Deliver
    Hero on the Run:

    Claudio Grassi standing in front of a wall, with the Heroes on the Run logo and "Claudio: Delivery Driver" overlaid
    Claudio Grassi is a delivery driver and partner of a logistics company near Milan, Italy, that specializes in the health sector.
    Read his story

     

    Virtual Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K logoVirtual Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K
    Hero on the Run:
    NYRR Hero on the Run Tatiana Rojas on a run, with the Heroes on the Run logo and "Tatiana: Case Management Coordinator" overlaid
    Tatiana Rojas is a case management coordinator at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, working with COVID-19 patients by phone after they are discharged as she herself recovers from the coronavirus.
    Read her story

     

    Virtual Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff 5M logoVirtual Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff
    Hero on the Run:
    NYRR Hero on the Run Kelton Miller on a run, with the Heroes on the Run logo and "Kelton: Production Supervisor" overlaid
    Kelton Miller works as a production shift supervisor at Poland Spring's bottling facility in Hollis, ME—the largest bottling factory in the country—and hasn’t missed a day of work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Read his story

     

    Virtual NYRR Staten Island Half logoVirtual NYRR Staten Island Half
    Heroes on the Run:
    Karen Sutton finishing TCS New York City Marathon with Heroes on the Run text overlay
    Dr. Karen Sutton, based in Connecticut, is an orthopedic surgeon with Hospital for Special Surgery and a member of the Sports Medicine Institute and Women’s Sports Medicine Center.
    Read her story

     

     

    Close-up of Dylan Vidoli in firefighter gear, standing in front of a fire truck, with the Heroes on the Run logo overlaid and a lower-third graphic reading "Dylan: Firefighter"
    Dylan Vidoli is a firefighter with Engine Company 225 in Brooklyn and an active member of the FDNY Running Club.
    Read his story

     

    Virtual New Balance Bronx 10M logoVirtual New Balance Bronx 10 Mile
    Hero on the Run:
    Sandra Perez nurse with Heroes on the Run text overlay
    Sandra Perez works as a registered nurse at the trauma unit at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, has been an NYRR member since the 1990s, and currently runs with the Boogie Down Bronx Runners.
    Read her story

     

    Volvo Cars for Alex Million Mile 5K logo Volvo Cars for Alex Million Mile 5K
    Hero on the Run:
    Dr. Yael Mosse running with Heroes on the Run text overlay
    Dr. Yael Mossé is a doctor in pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and one of the funded researchers for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
    Read her story

     

    Virtual New Balance 5th Avenue Mile logo Virtual New Balance 5th Avenue Mile
    Hero on the Run:
    Nicole Pieszchata running with the Heroes on the Run logo overlaid and a lower-third graphic reading: "Nicole: Physical Therapist"
    Nicole Pieszchata from Harlem is an NYRR Open Run volunteer at Morningside Park and a full-time physical therapist at Columbia Presbyterian.
    Read her story

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