Hello to all of those who have taken the time to visit Running For Ryan.  I started this fundraiser challenge in September of 2009, when I had a dream about running a race and feeling like I couldn’t finish it until my brother Ryan appeared to cheer me on to the finish.

Ryan Shay was an elite long distance runner, as well as my brother.  Sadly, at the age of 28, Ryan passed away while running the Men’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City on November 3, 2007.

Ryan left behind 4 brothers, 2 other sisters, his wife, Alicia, and our mom and dad.

As his sister, there was nothing that could have prepared me for this loss, but over the course of time the sadness has turned into inspiration as I completed my first marathon in his honor in Austin on February 14, 2010 with a time of 4h33m and raised over $13,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).  The WWP is a non profit organization which benefits severely wounded veterans returning from overseas.

With support from Alicia, my parents, siblings, other family and friends, and Sente Mortgage (for the Austin Marathon), Running For Ryan has been an amazing experience and inspired me to try and live a more healthy and fulfilled life.

While living in Maryland a couple of years ago, I was often at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  After seeing many veterans with life altering injuries, I hoped to one day give back to these brave men and women.  This is why I choose to run for WWP.  

I am enthusiastic to support a cause that has helped many of these soldiers with amputations run, bike, swim, and even become tri-athletes, just like the veterans pictured on the top of this webpage.

Their determination to continue to succeed in life even after injury follows a quote that is engraved on a park bench in Central Park, New York:

“It is necessary to dig deep within oneself to discover that hidden grain of steel called will.” 
-Ryan Shay

Thank you for you support!