March 9, 2020
With the memory of his late wife, Lisa, fueling his every step, Kevin Maloney ’88CBA has raised more than $300,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation by running in the Bermuda Triangle Challenge each year.
“Lisa always said that she loved me most when I got involved with helping others,” he reflected. “The thought of helping kids battling cancer, in her eyes and mine, is one of life’s highest callings.”
In 2013, the Long Beach, NY, resident ran the New York City Marathon in support of the organization with Lisa as his one-woman support team. A year later, he ran in his first Bermuda Triangle Challenge in support of St. Baldrick’s. Together, the couple raised more than $36,000 for the organization.
After losing Lisa to cancer in 2016, he vowed to continue racing and carry on the couple’s fight against the disease.
With the help of friends and colleagues at Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, LTD, where he is a senior vice president, he formed the #RunForLisa team, which also includes clients of the company and brokers.
“Lisa loved St. Baldrick’s,” he explained. “That is why my friends and I literally fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.”
St. Baldrick’s was founded in 2004 by John Bender ’87TCB and his colleagues as a platform to raise funds to support the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers. He and Mr. Maloney were friends growing up, and both attended St. John’s as undergraduates in the late 1980s.
“Kevin does an amazing job honoring Lisa’s memory by raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for our mission,” said Mr. Bender. “I know Lisa is smiling down on Kevin with great love and pride in her eyes and heart.”
“John has always been a great friend and an inspiration,” said Mr. Maloney. “Even at school, he was so focused on future success. As a founding member of St. Baldrick’s, he makes all of us very proud.”
This year alone, Mr. Maloney has raised over $80,000 for St. Baldrick’s by racing in the Bermuda Challenge. The Challenge is held each year in January and includes three races over three consecutive days. The first race is one mile; the second race is 10K (6.2 miles); and the final race is a half marathon (13.1 miles). He and his team just completed their fifth Challenge.
“I feel like everybody on the island knows me and loves Lisa,” he said, “even though they never met her.”
Mr. Maloney is no stranger to competitive running, as he ran cross-country in high school and briefly held the top spot in the “20 and Under” division of the Long Island Marathon. “These days, I am truly just a ‘weekend warrior,’” he said. “I use running to try and keep my weight down, manage stress, and improve my overall health.”
Looking ahead, he has set a target of raising $100,000 this year, and is considering running in the Jovia Long Island Half Marathon to reach that goal. “It is a labor of love,” he said. “If it helps cure one child of cancer, or even gives someone a better day, then I am happy.”
To support the #RunForLisa team, please visit www.stbaldricks.org/fundraisers/forLisa