50 for Lucy: Marathons for Mental Health Awareness— OHIO!

UPDATE (April 11, 2025): We have surpassed our fundraising goal for North Carolina, achieving 11 out of 50. Now, we are focused on The Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, OH, aiming for 12 out of 50 on May 4, 2025. A HUGE thank you to everyone who donated and supported me in reaching the start line in North Carolina—we did it! Best of all, we raised a surplus and are donating $1,000 to crisis services in North Carolina!

I also have received sponsorship from CIRE Travel based in Kennebunk who has so generously offered to cover the cost of my airfare for the rest of the season. I can't speak to how much of a difference this makes in my planning and budgeting for the year. Thank you Eric and the whole team at CIRE! Give them a follow @ciretravel

I hope to raise an additional $2,000 for the Ohio marathon in just a few weeks. This funding will help cover travel expenses and allow us to make a donation to local crisis services there as well.

50 for Lucy: Running for Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention

Hello! I'm Coach Tati, and I am on a mission to honor my late mother, Ludmilla "Lucy" Szemetun, in a way that embodies love, resilience, and advocacy. My mother passed too soon due to mental health struggles, leaving a void that no words can fill. In her memory, I have embarked on a journey called 50 for Lucy—a challenge to run a marathon in all 50 states, spreading awareness for suicide prevention and mental health along the way.

I ran my first marathon in October 2023 and have since completed 11. As I prepare for my next marathon—The Flying Pig in Ohio, my 12th—I am reaching out for support. The funds I raise will cover the base expenses of travel and registration. Anything I raise beyond that will be donated to the Ohio Crisis Line, a cause deeply close to my heart. Having worked for the Maine Crisis Line for four years before transitioning to fitness coaching full-time, I have witnessed firsthand the impact of these life-saving services.

As a runner, I run for those who can’t. I run for those who are struggling, those we have lost, and those searching for hope. 50 for Lucy is more than a personal goal—it is a movement to inspire others to channel their grief into purpose, to honor loved ones lost to mental health and substance use struggles, and to foster meaningful change in the conversation around mental health.

In addition to these fundraisers, I am seeking sponsorship from local businesses and companies in the health and fitness space who want to support a fellow athlete and coach while standing in alignment with the cause of mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

Let’s lace up, rise together, and bring awareness to a cause that affects so many. Every donation, every share, and every voice makes a difference. Thank you for helping me honor Lucy’s legacy and make an impact—one marathon at a time.

Donate today and join me in the fight for mental health awareness.