In 2015, while Jay was training for his first NYC Marathon, he would go have breakfast with his grandmother every Sunday at her nursing home.
Watching his grandmother slip sliding away was devastating for Jay Asparro and his family.
Jay ran to pray, to think, to clear his mind, and to find his own unique way of helping.
Jay Asparro created the Ann Asparro run in his grandmother’s name with the goal to help families and caregivers who are affected by Alzheimer’s to let them know they are not alone. With his running expeditions up to 100 miles and an Ironman Triathlon, Jay raised awareness and money for the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation.
Jay has transformed his love for his grandmother, Ann Asparro, and his passion for running, into his blueprint for making a difference, one mile, one person, one family at a time.
In 2016 Jay ran 90 miles to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s. To add his faith to the cause, Jay ran from the church in St. Therese of Lisieux in Montauk where he used to spend his Summers, to his Parish St. Pius X in Plainview.
Every mile he contributed to another family and he raised over $37,000 for the Long Island Alzheimers Foundation. It was just the beginning.
In November 2017 he ran 75 miles over 2 days to commemorate what would’ve been his grandparents’ 75th wedding anniversary.
Halfway 2018 Jay had already raised another $50,000 for the Long Island Alzheimers Foundation. He joined Lake Placid IronMan 140.6 on July 22, 2018 for all those caregivers who can’t quit and keep pushing forward. He got sick halfway through the swim. But he didn’t give up. On September 9 he picked up where he had to stop 6 weeks before and that day he finished his own Lake Placid IronMan 70.3.
In 2019 Jay’s beloved grandmother passed away.
In November he ran his last Ann Asparro Run and people could join him virtually from anywhere!
Jay was truly running the marathon of life for a better tomorrow. With each mile, Jay overcame his own fears and preconceived limitations to push for more awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.
Now he is talking at schools to inform and inspire young people.
