By Islam El-Sakka
A 24-year-old Pennsylvania woman running her first New York City Marathon to raise money for Parkinson's disease research collapsed in Central Park, just over two miles from the finish line, and later died. Rachel Apa of Lewisberry was approaching the 24-mile mark of the 26.2-mile race on Sunday when she fell ill, according to the New York Police Department.
Collapse and Medical Response
A bystander administered CPR before event medical staff took over and used a defibrillator. Paramedics transported Apa to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where she was in critical condition. Doctors attempted to save her for several hours without success. Her father, Steve Apa, told The New York Times that she had been stricken with rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition in which muscles break down during exertion, releasing toxins into the body.
First Marathon for Charity
Apa was running to honor her grandfather, who had Parkinson's disease and died in 2022. Her fundraising page for the Parkinson's Foundation quickly surpassed its $4,000 goal after news of her death spread. On the page, she wrote that her grandfather taught her to stay active, push limits, and embrace challenges.
Background and Tributes
Apa graduated from Bucknell University in 2024 with a degree in markets, innovation and design, and scored 17 goals for the school's Division I field hockey team. She had recently begun a master's program at Charleston Southern University and worked as a product manager. Bucknell University and USA Field Hockey both issued statements expressing condolences and praising her impact on the sport.
Marathon Context
The 2026 race marked 50 years of the marathon's five-borough format, with a record 61,000 runners crossing the finish line. New York Road Runners, the nonprofit that organizes the event, said it was deeply saddened by Apa's passing and extended sympathies to her family, friends, and the running community.
