Courtney has been a longtime supporter of Answer the Call thanks to her father, a former FDNY firefighter who served with Rescue 3 in the Bronx. Each year, she would attend Answer the Call’s Annual Gala with him, leading to one of her favorite memories with her dad. The two often bonded over their love for the New York Rangers, and Courtney will never forget the Gala where they met Mark Messier.
Having never participated in sports, Courtney took up running toward the end of high school with no goal other than to have fun. She found it therapeutic and enjoyed the challenge running presented. It was not until 2025 that Courtney ran her first formal race, a half marathon hosted by the beach town in North Carolina where she grew up vacationing with her family. She enjoyed the experience so much that she signed up for another half marathon shortly after in a neighboring town.
Courtney had always dreamed of running the New York City Marathon, so when she finally decided to run in 2026, she began searching for a charity to support. Recalling her history with the organization and connection to its mission, she chose Team Answer the Call. When people who have never heard of Answer the Call ask what cause she is running for, Courtney says it is nice to share the organization’s mission with them and connect her motivation for running back to the time she spent volunteering with her dad.
As a nurse working the night shift, typical scheduled training programs are much more difficult for Courtney to follow. After a 12-hour shift, it can be hard to find the motivation to run. However, Courtney’s newly adopted puppy serves as the perfect running buddy, pushing her to get outside and go for a run, even if it’s a short one. For longer runs, she has found it helpful to reach out to old running partners and has even bought her husband a bike so he can join her!
Courtney knows how special the first responder community is and how difficult it is to lose someone, but she says that “this is one of the best communities to lose someone with.” Her dad passed away from a 9/11-related illness, and she is honored to support the families of fallen first responders. Her message to these families is:
“Thank you so much for your loved ones’ support and dedication, and I think the best way to honor them is to do something that you know they would love or something to make them proud.”
Click here to support Courtney’s fundraising efforts!
We’re rooting for you, Courtney, and thank you for running with Team Answer the Call!
Answer the Call’s 2026 Summer Intern, Bridget McGrath, conducted this interview and wrote this blog post.
