Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old marathon runner who died after collapsing in Central Park, has had a 150,000-dollar foundation launched in her memory by her family.
The fund drive was set up to raise awareness of rhabdomyolysis, the rare condition that claimed her life on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when she collapsed within two miles of the finish line of the New York City Marathon.
By late afternoon on Friday, the GoFundMe campaign for The Rachel Apa Foundation had reached 106,000 dollars toward its 150,000-dollar target as donations poured in from friends, relatives and fellow runners.
"Our family is beyond heartbroken," the Apa family said in a statement on the fundraising page. "Rachel was a loving daughter and sister, a loyal friend, and the brightest person in any room. Her kindness, determination, and faith inspired everyone she met."
Her family explained that the nonprofit organization will work to ensure athletes understand the medical risks that took her life. "We want to ensure athletes know about this danger, that no other family suffers a loss like this, and that Rachel's memory lives on," the family said.
The Rachel Apa Foundation
The family announced that all contributions made to the campaign will be used to establish and fund the Rachel Apa Foundation. The nonprofit will focus on educating competitors and the public about rhabdomyolysis, a little-known illness that doctors determined caused her death.
In addition to raising awareness, the foundation has outlined broader objectives to improve emergency safety standards at major athletic competitions across the country.
"Beyond education, our long-term hope is to advocate for rapid on-course medical care at endurance races and support athletes carrying Rachel's Spirit across finish lines everywhere," the family stated. "Thank you for your support. It means the world to us."
The family said they have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from friends and strangers alike, many of whom had originally contributed to Apa's marathon fundraising drive before the foundation was announced.
Emergency Response in Central Park
Apa collapsed at approximately 1:30pm inside Central Park, mere miles from completing the 26.2-mile course through New York City, according to The New York Times.
A hospital social worker who was present near the course rushed to assist Apa immediately but could not detect a pulse. Two physicians who were watching the race from among the spectators also stepped forward to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Marathon medical personnel from the event organizer, the New York Road Runners, quickly arrived at the scene with a defibrillator, according to a statement released by the organization.
Paramedics followed closely behind in an ambulance and transported Apa to Mount Sinai Medical Center. Doctors at the hospital fought to save her life for six hours before she was pronounced dead at 9:40pm on Sunday night.
"We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our runners following yesterday's race," the New York Road Runners said in an official statement. "Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the runner's family, friends, and the entire running community."
Fundraising for Parkinson's Champions
Apa had spent months in disciplined training before taking part in Sunday's race. She entered the marathon to raise money for Parkinson's Champions, a charity initiative supporting the Parkinson's Foundation, running in honor of her late grandfather.
Her grandfather died from the disease in 2022. Apa had explained her motivation in a personal message posted to her fundraising page prior to the event.
"My grandfather was my role model growing up," Apa wrote. "He taught me to stay active, push my limits, and embrace challenges, shaping my love for sports and movement. Later in life, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and I watched as the disease slowly took away the freedom to move that he once loved so much."
She added: "He passed away in 2022, but the lessons he taught me continue to drive me forward. I'm proud to run with Parkinson's Foundation Champions to raise funds and awareness for research, better care, and a cure."
Final Messages Along the Course
During the race on Sunday, Apa remained in touch with her family as she progressed through the course. Her mother, Michelle Apa, filmed video footage of her daughter smiling as she reached Mile 14.
Her father, Steve Apa, monitored her race from the family home in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, sending text messages of encouragement as she advanced, according to The New York Times.
He received a brief reply from his daughter at Mile 18 that read simply: "Ow." A mile later, at Mile 19, Apa sent another short message saying: "Ow ow."
At Mile 23, her father sent a message telling his daughter that she had reached the final stretch of the course. He never received a response.
Michelle Apa had been waiting for her daughter at Mile 25, anticipating her arrival near the end of the race. When she failed to appear, her mother checked the official marathon tracking app and saw that Rachel was mysteriously still recorded further back in Central Park.
Michelle rushed toward the scene, arriving just as an ambulance was preparing to take her daughter to Mount Sinai Medical Center. She followed directly behind in a second ambulance.
Medical Dangers of Rhabdomyolysis
Medical officials confirmed that Apa's cause of death was rhabdomyolysis, an acute condition that can be triggered by severe and excessive physical exertion without adequate periods of rest.
The illness causes damaged muscle tissue to break down rapidly. This breakdown leads to toxic components of muscle fibers being released directly into the bloodstream and circulating throughout the body, where they can cause catastrophic kidney damage and systemic failure.
The rare condition affects approximately 0.0076 percent of the United States population each year. In high-intensity endurance events such as marathons, extreme muscular strain can cause the condition to develop rapidly.
Academic Career and Race History
Apa was a graduate of Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. She worked as a product manager for an electrical component company and was pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree at Charleston Southern University.
Her death represents a rare tragedy for the New York City Marathon. The New York Road Runners confirmed that Apa was the first runner to die during the marathon since 2024.
Fatalities during distance events in Central Park have occurred only rarely in past years. In 2007, five-time United States national champion Ryan Shay died in Central Park during the United States Olympic marathon trials, which were organized by the New York Road Runners on the day before that year's New York City Marathon.
