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John Harbaugh sends emotional message to Rachel Apa’s family after tragic NYC Marathon death
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh shared condolences with the family of Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old runner who died after collapsing near the end of the New York City Marathon. He said the team was thinking of her family and spoke of both their grief and the pride they might feel in her life.
Apa died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare muscular condition, after collapsing about two miles from the finish. A former Division I field hockey player at Bucknell, she was studying for an MBA at Charleston Southern University and ran to raise money for Parkinson’s research in honour of her grandfather, who died from the disease in 2022. Doctors treated her for six hours at Mount Sinai Hospital before she was pronounced dead.
In short
- John Harbaugh sent condolences to Rachel Apa’s family.
- Apa died after collapsing near the marathon’s finish.
- She ran to support Parkinson’s research in her grandfather’s memory.
Explained simply
The New York City Marathon is a 26.2-mile race through the city, attracting runners with a range of experience and reasons for taking part. Some run to raise money for charities or causes that matter to them.
Rachel Apa was a former university field hockey player who was studying for an MBA. She entered the marathon to raise money for Parkinson’s research in memory of her grandfather, who died from the disease in 2022.
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which damaged muscles release substances into the blood that can harm the body. Apa’s death has drawn attention to the serious medical risks that can arise during endurance events, even though such outcomes are rare.