UNBROKEN [03.18]
April 6, 2018
Market: New York CityAthlete: Grace Bowen, Anchorage Capital Group LLC
I grew up playing any and every sport I could possibly try my hand at. I was a tomboy in many ways and took pride in being able to hang with all of the guys on both sides of my family whether we were hiking mountains, running in races, playing tennis, or competing in made-up games of our own. In high school, I settled on playing field hockey and lacrosse, and I was fortunate enough to play lacrosse at the collegiate level for Princeton. Post-grad, it’s been a mixed bag for me from an athletic perspective. I tried getting into CrossFit for a while and then turned to fitness classes at the gym or miscellaneous boutique studios, but the cost of these classes has always been something that weighed on me. Last summer I decided to join a running team called the Dashing Whippets, and that has been an absolute game changer. Being able to set goals and work towards achieving them with a group of like-minded runners has really helped me develop a sense of confidence and purpose outside of work in NYC (and at a low cost, which is a bonus!).
A colleague of mine, Pat Coan, suggested I take a look at The D10 – he competed last year and loved it. After reading inspirational story after inspirational story, I realized this would be a great way to marry my competitive spirit with fundraising for a cause that affects nearly everyone I know in some way, whether it be direct or indirect. While the efforts of The D10 go to support pediatric cancer specifically, I like to think of this as a bigger and broader fight – to continue researching and developing a cure for cancer. My Grandpa, my dad’s dad, is currently undergoing chemo for prostate cancer – once upon a time, he was a minor league ball player and a very speedy runner, and today he maintains his feisty spirit as he endures his monthly treatment to slowly but surely remove the cancer. He is doing fabulously and using his fierce, fighting spirit to guide the way. He is my inspiration, as are the many stories shared by fellow competitors in The D10. I look forward to leaving it all on the turf/track in honor of the many women and men we are all fighting for.