{"id":2003,"date":"2026-11-05T11:55:25","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T16:55:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inhishands\/?p=2003"},"modified":"2026-11-05T11:55:25","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T16:55:25","slug":"nyc-marathon-runner-24-with-a-heart-for-jesus-dies-just-2-miles-from-finish-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inhishands\/2026\/11\/nyc-marathon-runner-24-with-a-heart-for-jesus-dies-just-2-miles-from-finish-line\/","title":{"rendered":"NYC Marathon Runner, 24, With a ‘Heart for Jesus’ Dies Just 2 Miles From Finish Line"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Left: Bucknell Athletics | Right: Steven Pisano \/ commons.wikimedia.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A 24-year-old Christian athlete who was running the New York City Marathon to honor her late grandfather tragically died after collapsing just two miles from the finish line.<\/p>\n

Rachel Apa, of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, was nearing the end of the 26.2-mile race on Sunday, Nov. 1, when she collapsed at mile 24. Despite emergency medical efforts, the former Division I field hockey player died later that evening.<\/p>\n

Now, family members, former teammates, and university officials are remembering Apa for her deep Christian faith, generous heart, and determination to make a difference in the lives of others.<\/p>\n

Apa was running her first marathon to raise money for Parkinson’s disease research in memory of her grandfather, who died from the disease in 2022.<\/p>\n

“My grandfather was my role model growing up,” Apa wrote on her Parkinson’s Foundation fundraising page. “He taught me to stay active, push my limits and embrace challenges, shaping my love for sports and movement.”<\/p>\n

She explained that watching Parkinson’s gradually take away her grandfather’s mobility inspired her to support efforts to find a cure.<\/p>\n

According to reports, a bystander performed CPR after Apa collapsed, and race staff used a defibrillator before paramedics rushed her to Mount Sinai Medical Center. Doctors worked for more than six hours to save her, but she was pronounced dead around 9:40 p.m.<\/p>\n

Her father, Steve Apa, told The New York Times that she died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition that causes muscle tissue to break down rapidly, potentially leading to kidney damage and organ failure. The New York City medical examiner’s office was still investigating her death as of Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Apa graduated from Bucknell University in 2024, where she played Division I field hockey and earned Academic All-Patriot League honors. She was working as a product manager while pursuing an MBA at Charleston Southern University, a Christian university in South Carolina.<\/p>\n

In a heartfelt tribute released Tuesday, Charleston Southern officials shared how Apa’s faith shaped her goals and ambitions.<\/p>\n

Maxwell Rollins, assistant dean of graduate programs, recalled a recent class assignment in which Apa expressed her desire to use her God-given talents to positively influence others.<\/p>\n

“She wrote that her desire was to demonstrate Christ\u2019s love and character in both business and everyday life,” Rollins said. “Though she had just started her MBA at CSU, her passion for others and heart for Jesus will continue to serve as an inspiration for all our students.”<\/p>\n

Charleston Southern President B. Keith Faulkner also offered prayers for Apa’s grieving family.<\/p>\n

“The loss of a vibrant young woman in the prime of her life is a sorrow no parent can imagine enduring,” Faulkner said.<\/p>\n

“We know that true peace comes only from the Lord, and we pray that His presence and comfort will be deeply felt by all who are grieving and by all whose lives were touched by Rachel\u2019s extraordinary life and legacy.”<\/p>\n

Apa’s former field hockey teams also shared emotional tributes, remembering her competitive spirit, infectious smile, and unwavering dedication to her teammates.<\/p>\n

“On the field, she played with intensity and determination,” Central Penn Field Hockey Club wrote. “She was competitive, serious about the game and gave 100% every single time, always with a smile and an unwavering commitment to her teammates.”<\/p>\n

“Rachel\u2019s spirit will be everlasting; her impact on the people and program will never be forgotten,” the club added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A 24-year-old Christian athlete who was running the New York City Marathon to honor her late grandfather tragically died after collapsing just two miles from the finish line. Rachel Apa, of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, was nearing the end of the 26.2-mile race on Sunday, Nov. 1, when she collapsed at mile 24. Despite emergency medical efforts,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":462,"featured_media":2006,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nNYC Marathon Runner, 24, With a 'Heart for Jesus' Dies Just 2 Miles From Finish Line<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A 24-year-old athlete collapsed during the New York City Marathon while raising money for Parkinson's research in honor of her grandfather.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inhishands\/2026\/11\/nyc-marathon-runner-24-with-a-heart-for-jesus-dies-just-2-miles-from-finish-line\/\" \/>\n<meta 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