OAKLAND, NJ — An Oakland native is preparing to tackle her first New York City Marathon alongside her longtime best friend, turning a shared dream into an opportunity to support families.
Talia Benducci, 23, and Savannah Nowak of Wyckoff, both Ramapo High School graduates, will run the 26-mile marathon Sunday, Nov. 1, while raising money for the Gladney Center for Adoption in Fort Worth, Texas, according to the Borough of Oakland.
The cause has a personal connection for Nowak, whose grandparents adopted her father and aunt through the organization.
The two met through Ramapo High School's Engineering and Design program nearly a decade ago.
Benducci, now pursuing a doctorate in chemical engineering at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said the marathon has been a longtime goal.
"I remember in high school, watching videos of the New York City marathon with Savannah," Benducci told the borough.
She recalled telling her friend, "That's going to be us someday."
Both women are preparing for their first marathon, with Benducci incorporating long runs and hills into her training.
"I'm running it with my best friend, and it's both of our first marathon," she said. "We just want to go out there and have a great time."
Benducci has set a $5,000 fundraising goal. Supporters can contribute through her official New York City Marathon fundraising page.
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