Jordan Runs for ALYN
As Jordan learned more about ALYN’s innovative approach to pediatric rehabilitation and its commitment to serving children from every background, he saw a meaningful connection between ALYN’s work, his family’s legacy, and his own path toward becoming a physician.
This January, American Friends of ALYN Hospital received exciting news: for the first time, AFAH had been selected as an official charity partner of the TCS New York City Marathon.
AFAH was initially allocated three entries and later received a fourth. Following community outreach and an application process, four runners were selected to represent AFAH in the 2026 marathon. Each runner has committed to raising at least $3,600 in support of the children and families receiving care at ALYN Hospital.
One of those runners is Jordan Weiss, an incoming medical student at Touro’s New York Medical College whose connection to healthcare and Israel is deeply rooted in his family’s history.
Jordan’s grandparents were Holocaust survivors who met while working at Tel Hashomer Hospital in Tel Aviv—his grandfather as an ambulance driver and his grandmother as a nurse. They built their lives in Israel while dedicating themselves to caring for others.
As Jordan learned more about ALYN’s innovative approach to pediatric rehabilitation and its commitment to serving children from every background, he saw a meaningful connection between ALYN’s work, his family’s legacy, and his own path toward becoming a physician.
“My motivation to help, heal, and contribute to Israel’s patients is in my DNA,” Jordan wrote in his application.
Jordan has already combined physical activity with fundraising through his work with cancer patients at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He helped raise nearly $10,000 through a Jimmy Fund Walk team and participated in the 50-mile Pan-Mass Challenge as part of a team that has raised nearly $300,000 for kidney cancer research.
By joining the AFAH marathon team, Jordan hopes to continue that tradition of service while supporting the next chapter of innovative, patient-centered rehabilitation at ALYN Hospital.
As race day approaches, Jordan has been balancing marathon training with preparations for his first year of medical school:
“The doldrums of summer have meant 95-degree days and the classically unbearable NYC humidity. While preparing for my first year of medical school, I’ve been training hard in and around Central Park, focusing on breathwork, pacing, and stamina—especially while taking on the infamous Great Hill on the park’s northwest side. The plan now is to gradually increase my distance while maintaining a manageable pace. I’m looking forward to spending more time on the West Side Highway over the coming weeks, hopefully catching a few summer sunsets on my longer runs. It’s been amazing to train with the ALYN team at practice runs and events, continue building our community, and be reminded of the incredible pediatric patients at ALYN Hospital who inspire every mile.”
We are proud to have Jordan and the entire AFAH team representing ALYN on the streets of New York City. Together, they will turn every mile into support for children working to reclaim their strength, independence, and futures.
