NYC Leadership Council Members Run to Great Lengths for Special Olympics New York

Council Members Brady and Battipaglia scheduled to run the 2026 New York City Marathon on November 1

 

By Randy Robertson, NYC Regional Storyteller

New York, NY – For 10 years Sarah Brady watched athletes overcome mental and physical challenges to participate in Special Olympics New York competitions.

The admiration Brady felt was so strong it led her to join the New York City Leadership Council, where she helps to plan and promote fundraisers to support athletes. That admiration also will lead Brady to Staten Island on the morning of November 1, where she’ll be among the 50,000+ runners crossing the starting line to run the 26.2-mile New York City Marathon.

Brady knows that running the NYC Marathon will be challenging. Still, she welcomes the discomfort she’s bound to feel as she runs through the city’s five boroughs.

“I have a vascular disorder that sometimes makes running long distances uncomfortable – but never impossible,” Brady said. “One of the most challenging – yet equally rewarding – parts of marathon training is pushing through that discomfort and proving you can be stronger than temporary pain. To me, this run is really about trusting how powerful the mind, thoughts and perspective can be as opposed to physical prowess.”

Brady and fellow NYC Leadership Council member Chris Battipaglia will be running the NYC Marathon this year. They are among a group of 40 runners representing Special Olympics New York in the marathon, raising vital funds that support athletes, coaches and programs across the state.

Brady, a CLO Trading Associate at Goldman Sachs, has completed a half marathon but never attempted the full distance. For her the race is a bit of an unknown and exciting challenge. Battipaglia is an Investment Banking Vice President at Moelis & Company. He fought through some of those physical challenges that Brady noted in his first marathon. On Saturday he’ll be looking to build upon those lessons learned to post a better result this time.

“For the first marathon the goal is to finish,” Battipaglia said. “Once you achieve that you want to go faster. You can always improve.”

Claire Flannery of Special Olympics New York manages the monthly NYC Leadership Council meetings. According to Flannery, there are about 25-30 active members of the council, and Brady and Battipaglia are especially impactful.

“Sarah is relatively new to the council and she is awesome,” Flannery said. “She secured a large sponsorship from Goldman Sachs this summer for the Summer Social. She also brought about eight people to the Walk Manhattan event in May, helping to promote that first annual event for us. And Chris has always been super active here. He’s a Council co-chair and he does so much for our athletes.”

The NYC Leadership Council is a Manhattan-based young professionals committee that promotes awareness and raises funds to support Special Olympics New York. Council members who are active on a regular basis often qualify for one of the organization’s coveted NYC Marathon racing bibs.

Both Brady and Battipaglia eagerly look forward to running on November 1. Both also plan to continue making an impact in their work for Special Olympics New York.

“Special Olympics requires athletes to overcome whatever obstacles might be in their way to show up the best they can and partake in the sport they love,” Brady said. “To me, a marathon is the ultimate test of that same spirit – perseverance, determination, and the belief that your mind and perspective are stronger than any obstacle or discomfort you will face. I cannot think of a group that inspires and embodies that sentiment more than our Special Olympics athletes.”

Interested in getting involved? For more information about the NYC Leadership Council, view our Special Olympics New York website. Also on the site be sure to sign up for the council’s monthly newsletter to stay informed about all of our upcoming events and opportunities!

You can help Sarah Brady and Chris Battipaglia make it across the New York City Marathon finish line! To contribute to their fund-raising efforts: https://events.nyso.org/site/TR?fr_id=3561&pg=entry

 

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