William Jantzen is running his first-ever marathon this November with Team Answer the Call!
While William didn’t grow up loving running, that started to change when he met his girlfriend, an experienced marathoner who has already completed three races and is signed up for three more this year. Her passion for the sport has helped William embrace it, and now he’s fully committed to taking on the TCS New York City Marathon.
Although he ran a bit in middle and high school, his longest race thus far has been a 10K. The transition to marathon training has been challenging, especially balancing four weekly runs while maintaining his diet and remaining disciplined. Yet William’s motivation runs deeper. As someone with a long family history of public service, including about a dozen first responders, he finds strength in honoring those who have served. He found Answer the Call while searching for a charity that supports police officers and firefighters. The organization stood out immediately because of its support for widows and children – something that hit close to home for William’s own family.
William’s uncle, John (Jack) Jantzen, served as a Suffolk County Police Officer for six years before he was tragically killed while off duty in 1991. His son, William’s cousin Jak, was not even a year old at the time. Today, Jak carries on his father’s legacy by serving in the Suffolk County Police Department’s Marine Bureau, just like his dad, and wears his father’s badge number. Running for Answer the Call is a way for William to support families who have experienced similar losses.
William will be running the marathon alongside his girlfriend. They train together, and he finds it helps him stay focused and motivated. During his runs, he listens to a mix of house music, EDM, and classic rock favorites like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. When he’s not running, William enjoys playing basketball with friends, hiking, heading to the beach, traveling, and playing video games.
“To the families of fallen first responders: the first responder community is always honoring the loss you have experienced,” William shares. “Life will go on. It will be tough, but there are new ways to find the joy your loved one once brought to the world.”
We are honored to have William running with Team Answer the Call this year and look forward to cheering him on every step of the way!
Click here to support William’s fundraising efforts!
Answer the Call’s 2025 Summer Intern, Michael Mauro, conducted this interview and wrote this blog post.
