Omar Sherbini

Why am I running?

Having just wrapped up my seventh year as a proud employee of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, I have witnessed the incredible power of community in improving the lives of the children, adolescents, and adults we serve here every day. 

The CHOP Leukodystrophy Center is a highly specialized program with a specific mission to deliver cutting-edge, integrated, multidisciplinary clinical care, diagnostic evaluation, and therapeutics to infants, children and youth with inherited white matter diseases, many of which are incredibly rare and oftentimes fatal, impacting the brain and spinal cord, and significantly impairing movement, speaking, vision, hearing, and overall development. 

It is because of the incredible fundraising efforts of a tight-knit group of families over a decade ago that this program  exists today, and because of countless other families who have made additional contributions in the years since that the Leukodystrophy Center has grown into one of the most respected names in the worldwide leukodystrophy community, offering excellent patient care, cutting-edge research, and quality professional education.

I am a firm believer that we cannot solve our most pressing problems alone, and that it takes a village to do so. With so many unmet challenges remaining for the kids, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with leukodystrophies, I am honored to have a platform to raise funds to support the Leukodystrophy Center's life-changing work, and to represent this incredible community of medical experts, advocacy leaders, and, above all, our patients and families at the 2024 TCS NYC Marathon.   

I hope you will consider supporting me as I prepare for the race. 100% of all donations will benefit the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Leukodystrophy Center, and all donations are tax deductible. Your gift will help turn today’s innovative ideas into tomorrow’s realities for countless families whom we have the honor of serving here in the Philadelphia area and around the world. Thank you for your support!

The CHOP Leukodystrophy Center Research Team

How am I preparing?

That's a great question! I ran my first marathon ever less than two years ago and have gotten hooked ever since. I plan to follow Hal Higdon's "intermediate" marathon training schedule to prepare over the next few months, and wake up at ridiculous hours to fit my runs around work and summer heat!

What am I most excited about? Most worried about?

2022 Philly Marathon (Brr...)The NYC Marathon is the largest marathon in the world, with 51,402 finishers in 2023 representing 148 countries around the world along with all 50 states plus D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam. The crowd has its own reputation, and I am so excited to have a front-row seat to the party.

What am I worried about? A lot! I need to make it six months without injuring myself, which - for anybody who knows me - is ambitious. I am committed to running this marathon in a snowstorm if I need to, but it would be awesome to get some nice weather for a change. My first marathon in November 2022 was Philadelphia's coldest in 28 years, followed just a few months later by subzero temperatures and gale-force winds for 2023 Antarctica Marathon. Broad Street Run a few months later? Pouring rain. Can a guy just get some nice weather, please?

How can you participate?

2023 Antarctica Marathon (More Brr...)Please consider supporting my fundraising effort for the Leukodystrophy Center! Every contribution is important to me, no matter how big or small.

If you'd like to follow my progress, please check out my Strava profile for a real-time record of my training runs. I'll post some information closer to the marathon on how to follow my race progress, as well. 

Questions?

Send me a message! Glad to share more stories about our incredible patients, the program they have helped us build, or my own experiences as a proud member of the CHOP family. :)