Cecilia Quinones discovered her love for endurance on the dirt trails of Lake Tahoe during her junior year of high school. What began as a spontaneous outdoor challenge quickly turned into a lifelong pursuit. Since moving from San Francisco to attend the University of Colorado Boulder, surrounded by the Flatirons and an elite running culture, long-distance racing has become a central rhythm of her everyday life.
Now twenty years old and a college junior, Cecilia is already preparing for her third 26.2-mile race. Having crossed the finish lines of the Boulderthon Marathon, the Los Angeles Marathon, and the San Francisco Half Marathon, she is no stranger to the mental and physical resilience that endurance sports demand. This November, she is bringing that experience to the iconic streets of the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon as a proud member of Team AFBS.
Inspired by Community
While Cecilia is naturally driven to test her athletic limits, her decision to join Team AFBS was sparked by the camaraderie of a close friend.
“I was inspired by my friend Finley who ran with AFBS last year and had only good things to say,” Cecilia explains.
Hearing about the tight-knit energy of the team inspired her to turn her third marathon into a platform for something bigger: raising critical awareness and research funding for Nemaline Myopathy (NM).
Nemaline Myopathy is a rare congenital neuromuscular disorder that impacts the thin filaments of skeletal muscle. Caused by genetic mutations, NM leads to widespread muscle weakness. For individuals living with the condition, everyday essentials that healthy runners take for granted, like walking, maintaining posture, swallowing, and breathing, can present tremendous daily challenges. Because NM is currently an untreatable disease with no approved therapies, families rely heavily on intensive regimens of physical therapy while researchers push to find viable clinical breakthroughs.
By wearing the Team AFBS jersey in New York, Cecilia is running to ensure the families and children navigating NM receive the scientific support they urgently need.
Solo Miles in the Summer Heat
Training for twenty-six point two miles at high altitude while balancing the demands of a busy college schedule requires remarkable focus. Cecilia kicked off her training block in the mountains of Northern California before returning to Colorado, where she has logged the bulk of her summer workouts alone against the backdrop of Boulder.
“My training has been going really well, a big challenge has been the summer heat!” Cecilia says. “But I’m looking forward to cooler weather as I head into my peak weeks coming up. It’s also been a challenge balancing my busy schedule, but I’ve really enjoyed it. I began my training in the mountains in Northern California, and I’ve done the bulk of this training block solo in Boulder, CO!”
Despite the solitary hours and grueling summer temperatures, Cecilia’s approach remains rooted in pure gratitude for the sport. Her primary goal on race day is not about chasing down a strict pace, but about staying fully present across every bridge and avenue.
“In terms of running, I want to have fun and enjoy every step of the experience!” she says. “I want to have fun with my training and push myself to do my best.”
Racing to Accelerate Biomedical Research
Every dollar raised by Cecilia and her fellow Team AFBS runners flows directly to A Foundation Building Strength (AFBS).
AFBS is the only non-profit foundation dedicated exclusively to funding biomedical research focused on discovering effective treatments for Nemaline Myopathy. Because rare disorders rarely attract commercial pharmaceutical capital or large government grants, grassroots fundraising teams are essential to advancing preclinical gene therapies, drug screening platforms, and clinical trial readiness.
As Cecilia heads into her final peak training weeks, she brings the grit developed on Colorado trails to one of the world’s most electrifying courses.
“I’m a junior in college at CU Boulder, and I’m super passionate about running,” Cecilia shares. “I’m grateful for the experience to be running the NYC Marathon with AFBS.”
When she steps onto the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge this November, Cecilia will carry that passion through all five boroughs, knowing every mile helps build strength, hope, and real scientific progress for the entire Nemaline Myopathy community.
Support Cecilia’s Journey
Please consider supporting Cecilia, Team AFBS, and the individuals and families at the heart of this mission. You can read more about her journey and make a donation directly to her personal campaign by visiting her GoFundMe Page.
A Foundation Building Strength (AFBS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the development of treatments for Nemaline Myopathy. Our mission is to fund cutting-edge research to find effective treatments while providing resources and a strong community for families affected by NM. We are proud to be at the forefront of driving Nemaline Myopathy research breakthroughs forward through collaborations with research teams across the globe.
Donate to AFBS: Your monetary gift will support critical research and provide vital resources for NM families.
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