Heartbroken family of tragic NYC marathon runner Rachel Apa sets eyewatering fundraising
The family of Rachel Apa, the runner who died within two miles of the New York City Marathon finish line on Sunday, has launched a $150K fund drive to raise awareness about the condition that claimed the 24-year-old’s life.
‘We want to ensure athletes know about this danger, that no other family suffers a loss like this, and that Rachel’s memory lives on,’ read a quote from the family.
Apa collapsed mere miles from the finish line in Manhattan’s Central Park on Sunday. A hospital social worker rushed to Apa’s aid but was unable to find a pulse, while two physicians from the crowd also performed CPR. She was declared dead on Sunday night. The cause of death was rhabdomyolysis, which can be brought on by excessive exercise without rest.
The rare condition, which affects around 0.0076 percent of the US population every year, causes your muscles to break down and leads to ‘toxic components of your muscle fibers’ entering the kidneys and the body’s circulatory system.
The GoFundMe drive for ‘The Rachel Apa Foundation’ reached $106K of its $150K goal by late afternoon on Friday.
‘Our family is beyond heartbroken,’ read the GoFundMe page post. ‘Rachel was a loving daughter and sister, a loyal friend, and the brightest person in any room. Her kindness, determination, and faith inspired everyone she met.
Rachel Apa collapsed mere miles from the finish line in Manhattan’s Central Park on Sunday
‘She passed away while running the New York City Marathon on November 1, 2026. We’ve been overwhelmed by support from friends and strangers alike. So many of you have asked how you can help or donated to Rachel’s original marathon fundraiser.
‘The family will use all donations to create and fund the Rachel Apa Foundation.
‘The nonprofit will educate people about the little-known condition that doctors believe killed her, Rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo). We want to ensure athletes know about this danger, that no other family suffers a loss like this, and that Rachel’s memory lives on.
‘Beyond education, our long-term hope is to advocate for rapid on-course medical care at endurance races and support athletes carrying Rachel’s Spirit across finish lines everywhere.
‘Thank you for your support,’ the message concluded. ‘It means the world to us.’
She was running the race to raise money for Parkinson’s Champions in memory of her grandfather, who died from the disease.
Apa collapsed around 1.30pm, according to The New York Times.
Apa was running to raise money for Parkinson’s Champions in memory of her grandfather
After the hospital social worker and physicians rushed to treat her, marathon medical staff arrived with a defibrillator, according to a statement by race organizer, the New York Road Runners (NYRR).
The paramedics followed quickly with an ambulance, which brought Rachel to Mount Sinai Medical Center. It was there that doctors tried to save her life for six hours before pronouncing her dead at 9.40pm.
‘We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our runners following yesterday’s race,’ the Road Runners said in a statement. ‘Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the runner’s family, friends, and the entire running community.’
The Bucknell University graduate had trained for months before running Sunday’s marathon to raise money for the Parkinson’s Foundation Champion in memory of her grandfather.
‘I watched as the disease slowly took away the freedom to move that he once loved so much,’ she wrote on a fundraising page. ‘He passed away in 2022, but the lessons he taught me continue to drive me forward.’
Runners pass through Central Park as they compete in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon
Rachel’s mother, Michelle, recorded footage of her smiling at Mile 14. The young runner was also in touch with her father, Steve, back in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, where he was texting her encouragement, according to The New York Times.
Steve got a brief response from his daughter at Mile 18. ‘Ow,’ she wrote, adding, ‘Ow ow’ a mile later. At Mile 23, he told his daughter she had reached the ‘final stretch’ but never heard back.
Rachel’s mother, meanwhile, was waiting for her at Mile 25 but noticed on the marathon tracking app that her daughter was mysteriously still further back in Central Park.
Michelle arrived at the scene just as the ambulance was taking her to the hospital and followed in another ambulance shortly after.
Following Rachel’s death, the NYRR confirmed she was the first runner to die during the New York City Marathon since 2024. Additionally, in 2007, five-time US national champion Ryan Shay died in Central Park during the Olympic marathon trials, which were held by the NYRR a day before that year’s New York City Marathon.
Rachel had been working as a product manager for an electrical component company and was studying to get her MBA at Charleston Southern University.
‘My grandfather was my role model growing up,’ Rachel wrote online. ‘He taught me to stay active, push my limits, and embrace challenges, shaping my love for sports and movement. Later in life, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and I watched as the disease slowly took away the freedom to move that he once loved so much. He passed away in 2022, but the lessons he taught me continue to drive me forward.
‘I’m proud to run with Parkinson’s Foundation Champions to raise funds and awareness for research, better care, and a cure.’