"Whittaker: Running for Redemption with The Fortune Flyers"
In 2023, Marco Whittaker laced up his running shoes once again to join The Fortune Flyers for his second TCS New York City Marathon. But this journey began long before he became a seasoned marathoner. Marco first connected with The Fortune Society in 2019 as an Employment Services participant and resident at the Castle, where he started rebuilding his life after facing significant challenges.
In 2022, Marco spontaneously decided to run his first marathon, driven by a desire to prove something to himself. “I actually was thinking I wanted to do something to impress myself. The military turned me down because they said I had asthma and wouldn’t be able to run a mile in 10 minutes. And, I mean, I ran the whole city,” Marco recalled with a smile. As he prepared to hit the pavement once more, he was more determined than ever. “The toughest part was when you bend those corners, and you got all the people in the excitement,” he said. “I’m training harder this time. If you sweat more in training, you bleed less in work. Last year, I didn’t train as much, and I felt the pain.”
Despite the grueling challenge, Marco crossed the finish line in 2022, an accomplishment that became a badge of honor for him. “I survived certain things that people couldn’t possibly imagine going through. And to still be able to hold a smile—that’s what Fortune does. And a lot of it depends on you being your own superhero,” Marco reflected.
Marco’s journey with The Fortune Society was transformative in many ways. In 2022, he landed an internship with Mayor Bloomberg, a pivotal moment that opened doors he never thought possible. Grateful for the support he received, particularly from David Rosenberg, the founder of Fortune, Marco expressed his appreciation in a unique way: by giving his marathon medal to David. “I gave it to David because if it wasn’t for him, I really could have been in jail,” Marco said. “It was like I didn’t know that there was somebody out there that could have gotten me an internship with a mayor that got me so many jobs.”
David’s unwavering support, never missing a Thursday night meeting, left a lasting impact on Marco. “It felt like we had a voice,” Marco said. “And it showed me that there are people from all different walks of life or different ethnicities that have been justice-involved and stuff going on in their life, and a lot of people don’t understand it. I have PTSD from that. So, it was just good to know that there’s a place for people. Fortune is a great stepping stone to wherever you got to go.”
As Marco ran with The Fortune Flyers in 2023, his message was clear: “Keep going, and don’t ever quit. At the end of the day, don’t worry about what anybody says.” With each step, Marco not only challenged himself but also raised awareness for The Fortune Society’s mission, proving that resilience, support, and determination can lead to incredible achievements.