Running the NYC Marathon to Keep Healthcare Human
Rob Goldberg is running the NYC Marathon to support the Gold Foundation and keeping healthcare human. We are honored and thrilled, and some of our staff will be there to cheer him on. You can contribute to his fundraising here. We interviewed him to learn more:
What inspired you to pick the Gold Foundation as the cause you were running for in the 2019 NYC Marathon?
Rob Goldberg with his family
Rob: I wanted to use my running to help others and when I was thinking of a charity that had special meaning to me, The Gold Foundation was the one that came to mind. I was a patient of Dr. Gold when I was a teenager after I had brain surgery, and his care was a main reason that I am able to have a great life today.
Tell us more about your relationship with Dr. Gold.
Rob: I saw Dr. Gold for over 2 years, from the ages of 15 to 18. Dr. Gold not only provided the best medical treatment, but he was such a wonderful human being, and his guidance and kindness was invaluable, especially at that time. I still remember some of his quotes and the conversations that we had, and I don’t remember much from that time in my life. He not only helped me get back to physical health, but was always willing to talk about anything that was bothering me at the time, whether it was with respect to the headaches and other side effects I had or struggles with my school work.
Could you tell us about a specific time or story that illustrates Dr. Gold’s deep passion for humanism and the human connection in care?
Rob: One visit that stands out is during my senior year of high school. I was having a difficult time deciding on what college to attend, as I wanted to go to a very challenging school, as opposed to one that I would have more time to continue to heal from my injuries and enjoy myself. While most doctors probably wouldn’t care, less spend the time to actually discuss the matter, Dr. Gold gave me very practical advice that helped to solidify my decision, which was the best decision for me at that time. I don’t think that I will ever forget that conversation.
This isn’t your first NYC Marathon. How many have you run, and when did you start?
Rob: This is my second NYC Marathon. I ran my first in 2017 after one of my good friends asked if I would run for a charity that he was supporting. I only trained for 7 weeks, so this one will be very different.
How are you feeling about the 2019 marathon? Excited? Nervous?
Rob: I am excited. I have put a lot of effort into my training and I am ready to run. I’m sure that I will have nervous energy the day of the marathon, but I am looking forward to it.
What keeps you motivated to run?
Rob: I have always been active and have been running since I was young. I like to have goals and running is a great way to set my goals and continue to work towards them. It is also my “meditation” and time to think through the things that are happening in my life on a regular basis.
Anything else you’d like to share with our Gold community?
Rob: I want to thank everyone at the Gold Foundation for all of their support and for everything that they do at the foundation. It is a great organization and I look forward to continuing to work with the foundation. Thank you to the Gold community for your support as well. Any amount of money that you are willing to donate is appreciated.
Thank you, Rob!
Support Rob’s NYC Marathon For Humanism by donating online before Sunday, November 3.
