NYC Marathon?!
This one is for you, Daihachi. And for me.
Last time I ran a race, it was pre-covid and I was a newly single mom to a 6-month old baby girl. Now, my daughter is 6 years old and my first race back will be this year's NYC Marathon.
CRAZY. So why am I doing it?
I’m running this race because I’m lost without my brother and I’m trying to find my footing. My spectacular brother Daihachi ended his decades-long battle with depression on Sunday, September 29th, 2024 and I'm trying to find ways to be present with my racing thoughts. It's an honor to be running the NYC Marathon on Team Samaritan as a way to do just that.
I’m running because I’m reminding myself how to breathe through the pain. I’m running to punish myself and to give myself opportunities to pat myself on the back. I’m running because I miss my brother and listening to his favorite songs on my runs makes me feel connected to him. I'm running to feel less alone in my grief. I'm running to remind myself that I'm never alone.
Nothing would push me harder to train than my own desire to run this elusive marathon in my hometown in honor of Daihachi, on Team Samaritan. What better way to use my sadness to raise money for a charity that does life saving work in spreading suicide prevention awareness with a special attention paid to the younger generations through the “Hey Sam” text line (Text: 439-726).
Daihachi always said that I was his biggest supporter. I tried to be his rock and for decades, I succeeded. I really wish I had done more research on how to support my brother better and reached out to an organization like Samaritans. I should've just listened to him more and relied on outside help like Samaritan to support myself so I could support Daihachi more gently and more effectively.
I’m cautiously going back on Instagram for this journey (@sakura_yagi) so come along as I go from “couch to NYC marathon” to raise money for Samaritans. Please consider making a donation to Samaritans through this page and if you’ve already given through the Daihachi’s Memorial Fund on GoFundMe, thank you - your donation will be helping Samaritans as well as future filmmakers.
Thanks so much for your support and I’ll see you on my tearful runs around town.
About Samaritans
Samaritans is a Massachusetts-based suicide prevention organization that offers free, 24/7 services to all who need them. Each day, Samaritans supports hundreds of people through the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and HeySam, a peer-to-peer mental health support textline for young people. Samaritans also offers support groups for those grieving a loss to suicide and educational programming so anyone can learn to help those in crisis.
Since 1974, Samaritans has answered 3 million calls, texts, and chats; educated 180,000 people to recognize signs of suicide; supported 17,000 GB suicide loss survivors; and trained 6,500 volunteers to provide compassionate support.
You are not alone. Samaritanshope.org
Daihachi in his running get-up. Missing: sauna suit