Barrett Fitzgerald ran the New York City half marathon on Sunday in honor of his long-time friend Rachel Rabinowitz, who passed away in Dec. 2021 from a brain tumor.

"I think most people would take that really hard and just use the year to spend time with family and friends, but Rachel, she got motivated," says Fitzgerald.

She had already been involved with the National Brain Tumor Society, having helped raised thousands of dollars for the nonprofit organization.

Barrett says, "She rallied all of our friends together to come together for a bunch of fundraising events."

One of her efforts was to to create the running team "Rachel's Racers."

"When I found the opportunity to run the half marathon in honor of her and to raise money for National Brain Tumor Society, as well, I feel like I really had to do that. It was exactly what she would have done and what she would've wanted me to do," says Fitzgerald.