First-Time Participant Tackles 1,576 Steps to Honor Family and Support OCRA
Earlier this year, Crystal Merope Jeffs took her support for the ovarian and gynecologic cancer community to new heights—literally—when she entered the lottery for the Empire State Building Run-Up.
I decided to do something a little wild—to run up the Empire State Building. All 1,576 steps.
Her name was drawn on July 29, securing her place as a first-time participant in this storied event that attracts athletes from around the world.
Crystal’s drive to take on this formidable challenge, which had long been on her bucket list, was fueled by a desire to fundraise for Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) in honor of both her late mother, Maria Ginn, and her aunt Merope Lolis, who is currently navigating an ovarian cancer diagnosis.
Mom beat cancer once in her 30s, but not in her 70s. And she’s not the only one. Most of the women in my family have faced some form of environmental cancer. So this climb is personal — it’s for her, for them, and for all the women still fighting, including my aunt.
I chose to raise funds for OCRA because this organization is doing vital work in research, advocacy, and support. And that’s needed to push progress forward.
Rigorous Training and Determination Fuel a Personal and Powerful Fundraising Mission
With a steadfast resolve, Crystal began training for the race even before she knew she’d locked in a spot through the lottery. Once her name was selected, she started a grueling race prep schedule that lasted all the way up to the day of the event on October 8.
“The training experience was brutal in the sense that you had to find ways to replicate the race somehow locally within your means,” noted Crystal, who lives in Hudson, New York. She worked with KS Fitness trainer Nadja Eiser on her five-day-a-week regimen that included outdoor stairs, hills, and a StairMaster.
Family Inspiration and Advocacy Drive Crystal’s Climb for Awareness and Impact
Crystal said the daunting nature of the event made it especially fitting as a tribute to her mother, who had faced many challenges in her life and was remembered for her “energetic, adventurous spirit.”
The race’s landmark location also held special significance for Crystal when it came to honoring her Aunt Merope, whom she likens to a second mother, since she resides in New York City.
Every time we get a glimpse of that Empire State Building beacon, what a beautiful visual anchor it will be for both of us to remember this race and moment in time, and everyone behind OCRA’s efforts.
A “resilient presence” in Crysal’s life since childhood, Merope has turned her experience with ovarian cancer into a way to empower her niece and other family members by sharing resources and information with them, including the importance of genetic testing and preventive actions.
Crystal credits her aunt, late mother, and other women who’ve inspired her through the years as the forces that propelled her forward to finish the ascent up 86 stories.
I only completed this ‘mind over matter’ type of race because I had the strength and bravery of all these women in my life, right in my mind and heart.
Crystal’s Story Highlights the Importance of Genetic Testing, Preventive Action, and Community Support
Crystal encourages others to make their own impact by starting a fundraiser for OCRA, which can serve as a way to raise donations and also awareness.
Sharing your story (whatever it might be) is more powerful than you think, in terms of key information resonating with those close to you and prompting them to take action, as best meets their needs.
