Running with Purpose: Nutrition Student Honors Lost Friend Through NYC Marathon

Finding Solace in Running

An avid athlete throughout his life, Gardner had never particularly enjoyed running. But a few months after Axel’s death, Gardner turned to running as a way to process his grief.

“Running gave me the space I needed to understand what I was going through,” he says. “It was valuable to me to have that time alone to process my emotions.”

In May 2026, Gardner and his high school friends participated in Boston’s Run to Remember half-marathon together. This race held special significance because Axel had completed it just weeks before his death.

What had begun as an unfamiliar challenge became a passion for Gardner. After seeing what months of training could accomplish, he set his sights on the New York City Marathon.

“I wanted to accomplish this goal as not only a promise to myself, to show myself that I was capable of it, but as a way to really honor Axel,” says Gardner.

Turning Grief into Advocacy

Experiencing the devastation of losing a friend coupled with the admiration of seeing how Axel’s sacrifice changed the lives of others reshaped Gardner’s understanding of organ donation. Through his marathon participation, he hopes to help others recognize its potential to transform lives, even amid tragedy.

“What I’ve realized through this process is that it's important to find purpose in whatever you're doing—whether it's running a marathon or going to class or starting a new job,” says Gardner. “Your purpose becomes the greatest motivation for getting through the hard times in life.”

Gardner is running with the Chris Klug Foundation (CKF), which works to raise awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation. He has raised approximately $4,400 for CKF, surpassing his fundraising target through contributions from family, friends, and acquaintances.

“The support has been really beautiful to see,” says Gardner. “Seeing how Axel’s story has resonated with so many people has been especially meaningful.”

A Marathon with Meaning

The marathon represents the culmination of 26 weeks of training, demanding early mornings, long runs, and sacrifices of time with loved ones. Gardner describes the experience as physically and emotionally challenging, but deeply rewarding.

“The discipline, the resilience that you build through a process like this is something truly amazing,” says Gardner, whose academic interests explore how nutrition can be integrated into health care, particularly in meeting patients’ dietary needs before and after surgery. “Those are skills that I have built that will now serve me forever.”

As Gardner prepares to join thousands of runners on New York City’s streets, he has been reflecting on a lesson he has come to understand since Axel’s passing: You cannot always control what happens in your life, but you can choose how to respond.

“Things are going to happen, there are going to be obstacles in your path,” says Gardner. “But the person that you become by persevering through those difficulties is incredible.”

On Sunday, every mile will be an opportunity for Gardner to put that lesson into practice, celebrating a friendship that continues to shape his life and the lives of others, as well as sharing a message of generosity, resilience, and hope.