How I Raised Over 13K for Charity and Ran 2 Marathons in 9 Months

It’s been a while since I wrote my last blog but here I am on #MedalMonday reflecting on my near year experience where I raised over $13,000 towards two charities, Team For Kids and Casa Myrna, and finished two marathons, TCS NYC and Boston Marathon with no experience whatsoever in 9 months. This is my story!

Let’s start from the beginning. It was the middle of July 2017 where I found out that my kickboxing instructor friend, Meghan Nee, was actually participating in a marathon and she told me that I could do it too! I was already interested in doing one but never knew how I could get into it. I loved to run but I never did a 10k or let alone a half marathon. I was so eager to just do it so I pretty much went all in. If the requirements were just that I have to raise money and train then whats the worst that could happen? That was my attitude towards it. So for my first marathon, I set my eyes on training and raising money for Team For Kids at the Tata Consultancy Services New York Marathon (It’s a mouthful indeed). The charity please was $2,620 by October 4th, 2017.

Team For Kids offers free health and fitness programs to children across the nation. By teaching goal-setting, perseverance, determination, and teamwork, these youth programs are getting kids on track toward a healthy and successful life. I participated in this event because as a personal trainer and life coach, I wanted to not only make a difference in my community but be a role model and mentor where I can help my community live a healthier and satisfying life.

Being active and living a healthier lifestyle is important to me because life is short. I donated my kidney to my father on July 31st, 2013 and the training I did for my mind and body pushed me to create Jeremy Colon Enterprises which is a physical fitness professional center that offers a whole person approach to total lifestyle transformation. Working alongside a charity like Team for Kids allowed me to help those who need it the most on a national level.

Fitness has changed my life for the better because I can do more for myself, my family, friends, and for my community. I can feel great about myself as I empower and push others to do the same. My family has a long history of coronary diseases and everything stems from proper nutrition and consistent exercising. I want to break the family curse and be the reason why my children and their children live a healthier more fulfilling life because they had all the tools to do so.

The training wasn’t hard since I tailored and customized it around my availability and fitness level but fundraising was a lot harder than I thought. Through this experience, I realized who was really there for me and who supports what I’m doing. Since the Team For Kids organization was in New York and I was in Boston, I had to improvise and find ways to grab people’s attention so they can donate to me. I learned the hard way that a lot of organization and businesses were more reluctant to donate to a cause that was in-house rather than out of state but that didn’t deter me from finding other ways.

I started my running campaign on Social Media where every other day I was showcasing my training and dedicating the training pictures to Kids who are trying to lose weight and better their self-image and confidence all the while going to a bunch of networking events where I shared my story. Between training, running my business, photoshoots for content, working, going to events, and sharing my story, I was overloaded. I couldn’t stop because of the reminders that this was something bigger than me. I was putting my efforts into a cause I wish I had growing up.

Fast Forward; I was able to raise my fundraiser pledge of $2,620 by October 4th within 2 and a half months. It was such a surreal moment for me because all the late nights early morning thinking of content, training, and balancing reality all paid off! As I was entering the final week of the NY Marathon, a good friend of mine who’s a social worker called me asking if I would be interested in running for their organization since they had runner bibs available. Me being the type of person who’s always ready for a challenge couldn’t resist the opportunity to run the 2018 Boston Marathon.

The Marathon was one hell of a ride. The scenery was beautiful and the crowd was electrifying! I made the rookie mistake of running 6– 7-minute miles early on but I was so happy to complete it and say that I did a marathon! My legs felt like bricks and my body felt like it got hit by a truck but I know I would be fine given enough rest. After completing the TCS NYC Marathon, I set my eyes for Boston.

For April, I decided to put my selflessness, my self-confidence, and my physical fitness to work for people in jeopardy, running the 2018 Boston Marathon to raise money for Casa Myrna, Boston’s leading shelter for women who are victims of domestic and dating violence. I was more focused this time on finding ways to raise money since the marathon in New York showed me areas I was lacking in.

I chose Casa Myrna because of the important work they do, and because I know friends and family who have been victims of domestic violence. I was a survivor of Domestic Violence. I wanted to give a voice to the voiceless. I wanted to raise awareness about the root causes of domestic violence and how people can start over and get back on their feet.

Not all violence has to be physical. It can be emotional, too. When I was in that situation, it brought me down and I didn’t feel like myself anymore. Nonetheless, it was damaging, and it left a scar on me. When the opportunity came up to run for Casa, it was a no-brainer for me to do something for those that were in the same boat.

A lot of things happen in our homes and in our lives that we don’t speak about. I want to spread awareness and let those know that there’s an option. There’s hope, and they can get out of those situations. When I was going through it, I didn’t talk to anyone because I was stubborn. We can’t always do everything by ourselves, and there are people out there that are willing to help. There’s always a way out so that’s why I ran for them; I want to give them that option.

Having a hefty goal of raising $10,000 for Casa Myrna meant I had to think outside of the box and do things I’ve never done before! Creating 1–2 minute commercials was a great way to condense and consolidate the message to people that this is what and who I’m running for! I put together 3 commercials throughout my 4 month strength to raise money. Very helpful when you need that extra push for people to donate. You can view the commercial I did with Lesley University here.

I put together over 20 charity events ranging from brewery events where I held a table, gift wrapping (during the holidays with toy companies), ice cream and pizza parties, rolling burritos, charity boot camps, and art and music showcases. Every little bit helps whether it was $5 or $1000. I was able to get exposure through my local newspaper that helped me get a couple companies to donate a $1000 or match with me.

Nonetheless, I was able to hit my $10,000 mark by April 8th (WHOOOOO)! Raising 10k is not an easy feat to do in 4 months but it does feel good when it goes to charity. All I had to do now was run the Boston Marathon which is one of the hardest marathons you will ever do because of the steep hills and unpredictable weather that comes with it. Boy was I in store for a grand finale doing the marathon on April 16th.

I do have to say this, three days prior to the Boston Marathon, I was in a car accident where my driver side was smashed in by another driver. It was such a scary moment to be in. I thought I lost my brother who was the passenger and that my legs were broken. Luckily God was watching over us and I sustained only a sprain back, neck, and fractured index finger.

The Boston Marathon changed my life forever! Not only did I run with my injuries but it was noted as the coldest Boston Marathon in over 30 years of having winds over 32 mph. It rained, hailed, poured some more every 5 minutes, and the wind was unmerciful. Hyperthermia was in the air indeed especially with 1,298 runners medically treated on course, 992 medically treated at the finish line, and 80 hospitalized. It was a marathon where 29,978 runners registered and 25,756 actually finished. I was so happy to finish it without any injuries but most importantly, I’m happy I didn't give up! I had loved ones and people who depended on me to finish. I was also reminded at every moment all the runners who were blind, elderly, and disabled who kept on moving!

This experience of raising money for charity, training, and being a community servant leader has been something extraordinary that I would not trade in the world for anything. For those who have supported and encouraged me along the way, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Thank you for taking the time to read my story! Please let me know your thoughts and any feedback is always a plus!