In each of the first eleven years that EndoFound partnered with New York Road Runners—the nonprofit that organizes the New York City Marathon—Team EndoStrong was granted as many as 50 slots for the race. This year, that’s been increased to 70 runners.
The 40 percent jump will give greater visibility to endometriosis, which affects an estimated 190 million women and those born with a uterus worldwide. It will also boost funding for EndoFound to broaden awareness, education, and research. Last year, the team raised nearly $300,000, roughly $75,000 more than in 2024. This year, they hope to exceed $400,000.
“I think being awarded these 20 extra spots is a reflection of the relationship we’ve built with
New York Road Runners and the impact we've made in the community through our work as a foundation,”” said Clare Murphy, in her fourth year as Team EndoStrong’s coordinator. “These runners continue to show up for a cause that is historically and still overlooked and underfunded. Year after year, the team inspires me with their dedication, determination, and commitment to both advocate for and fundraise for endometriosis”
The runners are from across the country and don’t usually meet until race day, though they aren’t necessarily strangers when they do. Clare set up a team text so they could share their training regimens and encourage each other leading up to the race.
Three of those runners include Abbie Hixson, Tyler Hixson, and Eva Maniatty, all newcomers to Team EndoStrong.
“When I came out of surgery [in April 2025], I really wanted to speak up about my experience,” Abbie said. “I wish I had more people around me talking about endometriosis when I was going through it all those years, and I wanted to find something that could help me amplify my story and the stories of so many others. The marathon is giving me that platform.”
Abbie’s symptoms started nearly 20 years ago in high school. Although doctors said she could have endometriosis, she didn’t want surgery so young. She focused, instead, on managing the pain with birth control, Advil, heating pads, diet, and exercise, but nothing worked. As a lifelong dancer and now dance instructor in New Hampshire, she continually fought through her symptoms for almost two decades until they became unbearable last year.
Her six-hour surgery diagnosed her with stage IV endometriosis. Along with excising the disease from areas such as her liver and diaphragm, Abbie’s surgeon also did a hysterectomy, appendectomy, and partial colectomy.
“I feel so much better today,” Abbie said. “When I woke up from surgery, it was the first time that it didn’t hurt to breathe or push on my lower abdomen. It’s night and day from where I was then to where I am now.”
Abbie fought through tears as she talked about Tyler’s role in her journey.
“The times when it was really, really bad, I wouldn’t have been able to get through it without him,” she said.
Abbie and Tyler have been together since high school and have been married for nine years. He’ll be there at the marathon to cheer her on.
“I don’t have the words to describe how in awe I am of how she’s handled this,” Tyler said. “One of her doctors told her that her pain was the equivalent of going into labor every time she had her period. Another doctor said that if stage V existed, she had it. With that knowledge of what she’s been through, it’s going to be super emotional to run this with her. It fills my heart with such joy to see her do things in ways she was never able to do.”
For Eva Maniatty, debilitating endometriosis symptoms began much earlier, followed by years of being told that they were normal.
The recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst immediately went to her pediatrician with her symptoms when her painful periods began in sixth grade. Her doctor met her concerns with indifference.
“She’d say it was normal and to take Advil or Tylenol,” Eva said.
In high school, vomiting and feeling like she was going to pass out became regular monthly occurrences. The only other remedies Eva was offered then were birth control, which she did not want to take, and a high dose of naproxen sodium, which didn’t help much or for very long.
“After high school, my periods got progressively worse to the point where I would have pain the entire month. There would be maybe five days out of the month where I’d feel normal,” Eva said. “My junior and senior years of college were the worst my period has ever been.”
After her junior year, her gynecologist referred her to a well-known doctor in the area. Eva saw her while on her period and was doubled over in pain during the appointment. The doctor offered birth control pills or an IUD.
“I told her, ‘I’m not here to talk about contraceptive options. They will only mask the problem.’ She said, ‘Okay, maybe you should have your thyroid checked.’ At that point, I knew she wasn’t going to take me seriously,” Eva said. “I even told her my mom had endometriosis at this time in her life and had surgery, and that I had the same symptoms. She just dismissed me and said, ‘Oh, I don’t think you have that.’”
Eva returned to school in the fall of 2025 for her senior year with no solutions, and the pain worsened. In January, her gynecologist referred her to another doctor, who immediately said Eva likely had endometriosis and performed excision surgery in June. Eva said endometriosis was found in several places, including on her intestines, uterus, pancreas, and abdominal wall.
“Five days after surgery, I told myself, ‘I don’t want anyone to go through what I’ve been through,’” Eva said. “I happened to see a video of someone running the New York City Marathon and thought, ‘What better way to spread awareness and raise money, if I can find an organization that supports women with endometriosis.’”
She found EndoFound a week after surgery, applied for a spot on Team EndoStrong, and was invited to join.
“I want to show other women that there’s a way out of this,” Eva said. “Even though there isn’t a cure and we have to live with it forever, you can feel better, and you will get to that point with the right doctors, the right help, and the right support. I just want to enjoy every minute of the race and be grateful that I’m able to do it.”
Abbie agreed.
“We’re excited to be able to participate as runners and soak in the experience,” Abbie said. “We just want to finish and have fun.”
Tyler provided a profound perspective on Abbie, one that anyone who has witnessed a loved one suffer from endometriosis and then receive the proper treatment likely understands—and it summarizes Team EndoStrong’s purpose.
“She’s not a different person since the surgery,” Tyler said. “She’s the person she was always meant to be.”
To donate to Abbie and Tyler’s campaign, visit https://give.endofound.org/fundraiser/7169173.
To donate to Eva’s campaign, visit https://give.endofound.org/fundraiser/7389575.
To learn more about Team EndoStrong and to donate to any of the other runners, visit https://give.endofound.org/event/2026-tcs-nyc-marathon/e771572.
