Help Jason Mahant Run for Charity in NYC
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Hi,
I'm Jason Mahant, a runner from Central Florida, and I'm running the 2025 NYC marathon! I can't believe I'm finally saying it. The purpose of this campaign is to help raise enough money to contribute to a charity. I am currently on the waitlist for the Team For Kids charity, but with so many applications, I may also have to find another charity to fundraise for. Regardless, I'm starting this GoFundMe now to get ahead of the curve. Personally, I've always been a runner, and truthfully speaking, I'm only now getting comfortable with it. It's always been my dream to run the NYC marathon ever since I was in elementary school. And as each year passed, I remember watching Ryan Reynolds and Casey Neistat, among many other people I looked up to, go after it with their own personal aspirations. Since graduating college in May of 2023, I've had a tough time finding my footing. Whether it be finding my so-called "dream job" or trying to keep up with the Joneses, I spent so much time worrying about what I did wrong that I never considered what could go right. For the better part of this year, I've been preparing for a nonexistent race without even realizing it. I'd always tell myself that "I'll sign up for the next one" and "I need to get a little bit faster," but the truth is that I was always ready. As each month passed, I got better and better, and I'd PR on every mock half-marathon I ran. In my personal life, I came back to my college job part-time and began working to help pass the time. I started back from square one, and every week that passed by, I'd tell myself, "Let's go one more," meaning that I kept working harder and harder no matter the task. And with time, I was able to help my family little by little as well. On the flip side, one run after another, I got happier and happier. But I had no one to share it with. I hadn't realized that I unintentionally held myself back. As I finished my last mock trial and stood in the dark trail, it dawned on me. Subconsciously, I figured that if I didn't run, then I couldn't fail, and the one thing I was really good at wouldn't be lost forever. My reason was further solidified partly because I struggled to find that dream job I so desperately wanted. I'd get through 4 or 5 rounds of interviews and then, nothing. Over and again, I'd go through the same cycles month after month, and it got to a point where I was so mentally drained that running was the only thing that kept me going. It wasn't until recently that I had a change of character. After watching some of my friends compete in the NYC marathon, I became infatuated with the idea of facing my fears. Watching them accomplish this race meant that my past struggles didn't define me but my ability to carve out my own path. I've just signed up for my first half-marathon and will be running it on December 7th, 2024. This is the first step for me, and I couldn't be more excited. Personally, I'm now interviewing for roles I never would have thought possible at the beginning of this journey, and I know I'll continue to succeed no matter what happens. I hope this campaign inspires you to live your life to the fullest and go after it!
Organizer
Justin Mahant
Organizer
Winter Park, FL