NYC Marathon Recap!
Picture Credit: @acinthemind
What an amazing weekend Jordan and Cheryl had at the 2025 New York City Marathon over the weekend!! They both finished and ran strong. Cheryl even had a marathon Personal Best!!! It truly is a magical place! We ran with purpose and we made it to the start line with so many other Native runners from Native Strength Revolution, Native Women Run, Rise Above, Prolyfyck, 6Run5 and many others participating that we may not know about.
To learn more about who we are, our why and purpose for coming together, visit www.risinghearts.org/rh-nycmarathon. Stay tuned for a post NYC Marathon specific blog and newsletter soon!
Recap of Events:
+ 10/31 | Friday: Welcome Reception at Walker Hotel Tribeca
The official rabbit Pop-Up shop and launch of a special collection designed by Indigenous artist, Yatika Starr Fields and Rising Hearts with a longtime brand friend. We love and appreciate Yatika’s art and we are lucky to have collaborated on this kind of effort more than once. This was the launch of this collection, a one of a kind, and opportunity to grab a one of a kind NYC singlet made by Yatika. And it sold beautifully! We are unsure of how much is left, but it will be available on the website, VERY soon!!! Lots of pictures were taken. Laughs, drinks, mocktails, music, and merch printing on the spot!
+ 11/1 | Saturday: 8am No-Drop Shakeout Run with Rabbit
We had a lovely 3-mile shakeout with Rising Hearts, Women Make Moves, Tailwind, the Walker Hotel, and Halo along the water and just, tons of fun to come together through movement! There were multiple stops to make sure everyone was together.
We are really grateful for these opportunities to come together and for the support organizations bringing us to these spaces to represent our communities, our passions, and hold space for those no longer here. We had an amazing time supporting Yatika, his art and this launch. Be sure to check out the collection when it becomes available. A portion of the profits will be donated to Rising Hearts!
NYC Marathon Reflections
Cheryl Mora Robison (Diné)
”Sheesh! What a weekend! People have a lot to say about the NYC Marathon and they are not lying. The course is tough, the crowds cheer nonstop, and the energy is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in a marathon. It was an incredible journey and I am so grateful for all of it.”
Follow Cheryl on IG: @thatgrrlchurrl
Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Whetstone (Sičangu Lakota)
”OMG what a weekend! First time in a long time, going to a race, by myself, especially as a momma. So it was nice. Enjoyed 10.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep my first night. Then we had an amazing couple of days with Yatika Starr Fields and rabbit, supporting the launch of his collection that features a beautifully designed and art made singlet, a hoodie, a running hat, and limited socks available that were designed by Yatika too!
Seeing people come in and supporting this collection, taking a photo of Yatika, or of the art, or scanning the QR code to learn more, is the curiosity and support I enjoy seeing. Big shout out to rabbit for holding space for Yatika, again, and supporting this collection. And for committing to donate a portion of the profits to Rising Hearts.
Another big shoutout to New Balance who supported myself and Cheryl with our hotel rooms. W know that travels for races, especially world major marathons, isn’t cheap and the financial aspect of it all, can and most often, be a barrier. This support helped us to focus on our fundraising efforts for Rising Hearts!
Now back to my run. This is my second my NYC Marathon and both have been dedicated to raising awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous Peoples. And more recently, for Emily Pike. Thank you to my dear friend, Mary Kim, who has helped connect me with Emily’s family and help to raise funds for their efforts to get justice for Emily. This run, this race, was for Emily. It was for a free Palestine. It was to encourage people to go vote since elections were a couple days later. It was a call to protect Trans lives. And if I had more room on my body, it would be a call to keep families together, to protect immigrants. Running means so much more beyond just the fitness aspect and commitment of it all. It fuels my why. My family, especially my 3 babies, are my reason for being a voice and fighting for their future, all futures. So my call to you, if you’re reading this, is to please donate towards the Emily Pike billboard campaign. Link is below!
PROLYFYCK RUN CREW
We want to spotlight our friends from the Prolyfyck Run Crew from Charlottesville, VA who brought the vibes and their runners to experience the 5k and the marathon!!
”Prolyfyck's experience at the NYC Marathon was electrifying. It was the first New York City Marathon for all eight of our runners, and every single one of them finished, which was incredibly special. With Prolyfyck included in the main stage expo programming and several of our runners participating in meaningful charities, we felt we were able to make an impact beyond the sport of running.”
Follow Prolyfyck on IG: @prolyfyckruncreww
What's next for Prolyfyck that we can share?
Help stock the Prolyfyck Pantries and if you can donate items, here’s a donation link!
FUNDRAISER FOR RISING HEARTS:
Help support Indigenous runners participating in this year's 2025 New York City Marathon on November 2nd! Collectively, they hope to raise $5,000 to support the heart work of Rising Hearts! Cheryl Robison is Diné, raised outside of Washington, D.C. and identifies as an urban Indian. An only child, she spent a lot of time with her Navajo grandmother and Pima grandfather who taught her to be proud of her heritage and to fight for equality. She earned a master’s degree in Sociology and worked as an advocate and social worker for almost 20 years before leaving her career to focus on her family’s small business. Cheryl mindfully bears the weight of her own trauma history and the generational trauma of her ancestors. She runs because it is one of the few things that makes her feel truly free. And Jordan Whetstone, Lakota, Athlete Advocate, public speaker, filmmaker, and is the founder and organizer of Rising Hearts that supports the community in providing resources, community connections, and programming bringing community together meaningfully through movement, advocacy, kinship, and storytelling.
MISSION:
Rising Hearts is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to amplifying community voices through kinship, movement advocacy, and storytelling. We empower communities by fostering intersectional collaboration, promoting cultural resilience, joy and creating meaningful change for the next generations. Through our programs, we inspire collective action, elevate Indigenous and community centered narratives, creating safe and supportive spaces, continuously learn and show up how we can, and mobilize support for those in need.
Much of the heart work we prioritize is cultivating kinship with brands, companies and groups, while creating meaningful collaborations with the Rising Hearts athletes, community partners and broader movement community.
FUNDS SUPPORT:
+ Our programs, athlete advocates, speakers, teachers and events
+ Compensation for Programs Coordinator and Executive Director
+ Film projects
With every $100 donation, you’ll receive a Rising Hearts shirt!
If you donate $100, be sure to email us at info@rising-hearts.org with your shirt selection, name, mailing address and size! If not, at the end of the year, we will be checking all donation links and emails made available to us, we will email you with these requests too!
Thank you!
NEW YATIKA FIELDS COLLECTION AVAILABLE!
Yatika Starr Fields X rabbit Collaboration
What a successful launch at the NYC Marathon rabbit Pop-Up shop during all things NYC Marathon weekend!
We are thrilled to announce a limited-edition collection that was created in collaboration with rabbit x Yatika x Rising Hearts which is now available online in case you weren’t in NYC! We love these carefully made and beautiful art designed by artist and ultra-runner Yatika Starr Fields. A portion of the collection’s proceeds will go directly to Rising Hearts, an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to amplifying community voices through kinship, movement advocacy, and storytelling.
