For Cynthia Torres, Team for Kids' $100 Million Milestone Is a "Wow!"
Team for Kids (TFK), NYRR’s premier charity, raises funds and awareness for NYRR’s free youth and community programs. TFK has reached a significant milestone, raising over $100 million since the charity’s inception in 2002.
As we celebrate this accomplishment, we spoke to Cynthia Torres, a member of Team for Kids since 2018 who has raised over $40,000 and will be running her fifth marathon at the TCS New York City Marathon this year.
Cynthia talked about her running journey, what drew her to Team for Kids, what keeps her coming back, the vital importance of youth health and fitness, and some cherished memories of training, racing, and fundraising with her TFK family. Check out a video of Cynthia and read her story below.
“Just keep coming back.”
Cynthia had no experience in running when she signed up for the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon with TFK. “I went to my first practice and felt extremely awkward,” she said. But the coaches and other runners were friendly and encouraging. “They said, 'Don’t worry, today is the hardest day, just keep coming back.' I got a sense that they really wanted me to be there. So, I kept coming back, and it got easier. And I was like, I think I can do this.”
Cynthia would not have run a marathon on her own. “I’m a marathoner because of Team for Kids," she said.
“I hated gym.”
For Cynthia, fundraising to support youth fitness was a no-brainer. “I was this awkward little kid who would never go to gym class—I hated gym,” she said. Not until age 45, when she joined Team for Kids, did she prioritize movement and health.
“There might be a kid out there like that," she said. "If there’s a Rising New York Road Runners program, maybe it will encourage them, help them not feel like hiding in the corner.”
“The impact of Team for Kids runners.”
Cynthia has seen the impact of Team for Kids first-hand. At a Rising New York Road Runners shoe distribution she attended, one girl had never before owned a new pair of sneakers. “She didn’t believe that she had new sneakers for herself, not hand-me-downs from her big sister,” she said. “Seeing her face light up really brought home the impact of Team for Kids runners.”
Cynthia sees this impact when she cheers at Rising New York Road Runners races and hears from friends whose kids participate in Rising NYRR programs at school. “At some NYC public schools, they don't even have gyms; this is the only fitness program they have. I’m able to see where the money is going,” she said.
“A welcoming family.”
Cynthia initially joined TFK to gain entry to the TCS New York City Marathon, but she stays because of the TFK community.
“Team for Kids is a welcoming family of all shapes and sizes, all speeds,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to open yourself up to an experience while being surrounded by people who want you to succeed.”
Recently, Cynthia stayed up past midnight to text congratulations to TFKers finishing the Tokyo Marathon. "They’re out there—at New York, London, Boston, Tokyo,” she said. “You see the shirts and you know they’re dedicating their miles to the kids.”
“Beyond comprehension.”
Cynthia was astonished to learn that Team for Kids had reached the $100 million fundraising milestone. “When I saw that I was like, whoa. It’s beyond comprehension,” she said. “All these runners, all these races, coming back year after year… that shows that TFK rocks.”
She encourages anyone who dreams of running a marathon—or any race distance—to join Team for Kids. “TFK is the community you are looking for,” she said. “They will be there to help you from day one and catch you after you get your finisher medal. It’s the best experience anyone could have.”