City Attorney Raffetto runs NYC Marathon for charity
Ready to tackle 'the biggest challenge' of his life
The goal is simple – complete a marathon to celebrate his 50th birthday.
On Sunday, Asbury Park Municipal Attorney Fred Raffetto of the Ansell, Grimm, and Aaron law firm will run his first marathon. He will join the over 50,000 people participating in the 45th TCS New York City Marathon.
“Never in a million years did I ever think that I would run a marathon, nor did I ever have any interest or desire to do so,” Raffetto said. “This is going to take all that I have in me, and then some. It is the biggest challenge of my life, and I am ready to tackle it.”
Raffetto will be running to raise money for Team For Kids, a nonprofit that funds youth programs.
“These programs combat childhood obesity and empower youth development via running, wellness and character-building events and resources in low-income schools and community centers,” he said. “The mission resonated with me, as I love kids and the thought of changing lives. I believe that running helps to build confidence and character, and that becoming involved in such activities early on in life can help to steer a child in a positive direction.
While the 50-year-old took up running as part of health regimen in his 30s, it was a friend’s marathon training last year that planted a seed.
“It occurred to me that since I was approaching a big birthday, perhaps I could make this a goal to coincide with my momentous year,” the Sea Girt native said. “I set my sights on the NYC Marathon.”
Those sights translated into a five-month-long disciplined regimen of his own.
“My life and career were already over-scheduled, so somehow I had to ‘create’ time to do these training runs, some of which were of considerable length and duration,” Raffetto said. “I recall one specific occasion when I had to do a seven-mile run on the boardwalk after an Asbury Park City Council meeting had ended, which was the last thing (quite frankly) that I really wanted to do at that hour. But every training run counted, and I tried to make sure that I adhered to the schedule as closely as possible.”
The Sea Girt native said the 13-mile run through Brooklyn will have an important emotional connection.
“My Mom, who passed away almost two years ago and with whom I was very close, was born and raised in Brooklyn,” Raffetto said. “I will be running through her old stomping grounds and will be thinking of her during the entire race. I will be running in her honor.”
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