24-Year-Old Former College Athlete Dies After Collapsing Near Finish Line of First NYC Marathon

24-year-old Rachel Apa had a special reason for running her first marathon. She took part in the November 1, 2026, New York City Marathon to raise money for the Parkinson’s Foundation in memory of her grandfather, who died from the disease. Hoping to make a difference for others living with Parkinson’s, she set a fundraising goal of $4,000 and prepared to take on the challenging 26.2-mile race. But what should have been a proud moment in her life ended in tragedy.