Cheer on HJTEP at the 2026 TCS NYC Marathon

The countdown to the November 1 TCS New York City Marathon is on! HJTEP’s Marathon Team – Running for Legacy is preparing to take on 26.2 miles in support of the young people and families we serve. Four dedicated runners, one shared mission: to champion HJTEP’s 54-year legacy of developing young leaders through tennis, education, and wellness.

Their heartfelt commitment to our work extends well beyond the finish line. Every dollar they raise will help sustain HJTEP's year-round programs and ensure that financial circumstances never prevent a child from participating in or persisting with our program. Now it's our community's turn to show up for them! Help our runners reach their fundraising goals and make every mile count.

Meet the four runners taking on 26.2 miles for HJTEP:

Doug Knox

Our beloved HJTEP fitness coach of five years is running a 26.2-mile tribute to representation and mentorship. Coach Doug knows firsthand how powerful it is for young people to see someone from their community reaching big goals, and he is running to inspire our next generation of leaders.

Sara Levy-Lambert

Sara’s journey comes full circle this race. As an HJTEP alumna who trained with us from 2010 to 2014, she credits our coaches with instilling the discipline and confidence that shaped her life. Now a new mom, she is tackling her very first marathon to give back to the program that gave her so much.

Glendon Sanders

After five years of lottery denials, Active Duty service member Glen never lost faith. Joining Team HJTEP connects his long-awaited NYC Marathon dream with his lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and showing young people the power of resilience.

Kenneth Tao

Kenny grew up playing on public park courts because private academies were out of reach, eventually rising to play Division I tennis at Harvard. He is running to ensure financial limits never keep a child from pursuing their potential on or off the court.