NYC Half Marathon 2024: Maggie’s Mission founders join this year’s race to help fight pediatric cancer, honor their daughter [Video]

GREENLAWN, New York (WABC) — For the third consecutive year, Maggie’s Mission is an official charity partner of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon.

The team of close to 12 runners has raised more than $21,000 this year, and counting, all to help children fighting pediatric cancer, and for the team’s founder… the fight is personal.

Donna and Steve Schmidt are usually at the finish line in Central Park, cheering on those running for Maggie’s Mission. They created the foundation after losing their daughter to a rare and aggressive form of cancer seven years ago.

Maggie was only 17 when she passed. Shortly after, her family found a bucket list she left behind.

“We found Maggie’s bucket list in a notebook after she passed away. It was pretty difficult to read because some of them were really sweet things,” Donna Desousa-Schmidt said. “One of the last things she wrote was ‘to make it to be …