The N.Y. Police and Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund mourns the loss of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam Answer the Call joins all New Yorkers in mourning the heartbreaking loss of NYPD Police Officer Didarul Islam of the 47th Precinct. Officer Islam, just 36 years old, was tragically shot and killed on July 28, 2025…
The N.Y. Police and Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund mourns the recent passing of Howard Weiser. Howard served as a devoted and compassionate board member of our organization for many years. Howard’s commitment to helping others and his generous spirit will be remembered fondly by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed….
Lauren ran the New York City Half Marathon in March of 2024 on Team Answer the Call and is super excited to be running again in November! Lauren has a master’s degree in real estate development and works for a Real Estate Investment Trust on their Acquisitions Team. She anticipates that training might be difficult…
Zachary is thrilled to be running his first NYC Marathon! His running journey started in college as he found it to be a great form of exercise and a way to challenge himself. Training for the marathon allows Zachary to see different parts of New York City which he greatly admires. He is also lucky…
After picking up running during the pandemic, Victor is gearing up to run his fifth marathon this November! Throughout 2020, he started focusing on long distance running and working on improving his endurance, a focus that has since led him to running for Team Answer the Call! When deciding which charity to run for, Answer…
Kate is looking forward to running her first New York City Marathon on Team Answer the Call this November! Growing up, running was a way for Kate to get involved in her community and stay active. Now, she trains with a few friends for the New York City Marathon which has been the highlight of…
After losing her father at just 17 years old, Nicole found healing in running. She completed the New York City 2021 Marathon and decided that her next marathon would be for charity. Shortly thereafter, she discovered Answer the Call and felt a deep connection to its mission. She appreciates that Answer the Call can provide…
Patrick’s passion for Answer the Call is rooted in his family’s legacy of service with the NYPD, including his grandfather, mother, and brother. After joining the organization’s Associate Committee, he’s witnessed firsthand the positive impact it has on the families of fallen first responders. As he trains for the upcoming marathon, he’s finding a growing…
Kristina, a lifelong athlete, has always made running a part of her life, especially while training to play college lacrosse. Her passion for running grew over the years, leading her to complete a marathon in Nashville. Now, she’s getting ready for her first New York City Marathon with Team Answer the Call. She was introduced…
Running the New York City Marathon has been a major goal for Grace since the start of the 2020 pandemic where she found running to help clear her mind and keep her on schedule each day. In preparation for the marathon, Grace has been running 5ks and recently completed a 10k in March. Being that…
After running for about eight years, Victoria will be conquering her first ever long-distance run with Team Answer the Call this November! Not only is she a runner for this organization, but Victoria is also the current Operations Associate for Answer the Call. She believes Answer the Call has created a truly amazing community and…
Ever since becoming an avid field hockey player, Emma’s always had an affinity for running. Upon moving to New York last year, she found running to be a great way to explore the city. Both of Emma’s parents are Baltimore police officers, so a charity that benefits the families of fallen first responders greatly resonates…
Upon moving to New York City in 2020, Juliana began to view New York City first responders as the lifeline of the city. This inspired her to want to run on Team Answer the Call and give back to “the city’s true heroes” in any way that she could. Juliana has been running for just…
Helania attended Answer the Call’s 38th Annual Gala in 2023 and was deeply moved by the stories of individuals who lost loved ones in the line of duty. Since then, she has been eager to show her support for the first responders of New York City! While she has no personal connection to the FDNY…
On the evening of Sunday, October 8th, the Empire State Building graciously shone in Answer the Call’s colors, red and blue, in memory of all of our fallen first responders and their families. The Empire State Building lighting serves as a symbol of our collective commitment to honoring and never forgetting those who have made…
Running with Team Answer the Call was “an easy decision”, for Brianna Weppler, whose grandfather was a member of the FDNY. Running in his honor, Brianna is training for her third New York City Marathon. During the Covid-19 shutdown, Brianna made it her mission to learn how to love running. Since then, she has competed…
As a New York law enforcement officer himself, Tyler Levin knew he wanted to find a charity he could “personally connect with” after deciding to run the TCS NYC Marathon. With both his stepfather and best friend in the law enforcement field as well, joining Team Answer the Call seemed like a no-brainer. Though this…
As a wife to a state police officer and a longtime resident of the tri-state area, Renee Botello felt connected to Team Answer the Call. She describes the charity as extremely close to her heart, as her husband is a member of the Honor Guard, supporting funerals to those who have been killed while serving…
For Jessica Jacobson, running for Team Answer the Call “felt like fate”! While watching last year’s New York City marathon with a friend, Jessica was approached by one of Answer the Call’s beneficiaries, a woman whose husband had been killed in the line of duty. She explained to Jessica that their daughter was running for…
After being a runner for so many years, Jack McNelis made it a goal of his to run this year’s marathon with Team Answer the Call. Jack participated in other half marathons such as the Indy Mini and the Disney Marathon in the past. He was a cross-country runner at his high school in his…
