Completing his 14th Boston Marathon left University of Virginia President Jim Ryan feeling both painful and hopeful.
“And I’m not just talking about how my legs felt the day after,” Ryan said.
The emotions came from the cause that spurred his commitment to the famed 26.2-mile race in April. Ryan ran to support UVA’s Alzheimer’s research and the care of patients living with the disease.
“It was painful in the sense that Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that affects far too many people,” Ryan said. “Knowing that about 500,000 Americans will be diagnosed every year is a painful reality.
“But it was hopeful in the sense that we have, right here, brilliant scientists working on new treatments, incredibly caring providers for these patients, and we are closer than ever to effective treatments, if not an outright cure.”
Rising fourth-year student Ashley Nguyen, a biology major, introduces her Alzheimer’s research to UVA Health nurse Tori Martin. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
Ryan’s campaign was celebrated Friday at Cobb Hall, where he presented a $79,517 check to Dr. Mitch Rosner, UVA’s interim executive vice president for health affairs. It is the most money collected during Ryan's Boston Marathon fundraising campaigns.
“People showed up in an incredible way to support your run,” Rosner told Ryan. “It really shows this is a cause that resonates deeply with everybody, because we’ve all been really touched by this disease.”
Ryan and his wife, Katie, are no exceptions. Their close friend, Karen Loftus, a UVA alumna, died in 2021.
“Karen came down with early-onset Alzheimer’s about a decade or so ago,” Ryan said, “and as many of you can appreciate, it was an incredibly difficult, though occasionally beautiful road from there until her way-too-early passing.
“I’m glad that both Katie and Karen’s daughter, Laura, are in the audience today, and I was honored to wear Karen’s name on my marathon shirt.”
UVA Health nurse Tori Martin said Friday’s presentation was more than a nod to a fundraising milestone. It was a “moment rooted in love, compassion and belief that we can make a difference together,” she said.
