There’s a moment in every marathon, not just on the course but in life, when it feels impossible to keep going. The body is so exhausted, legs heavy as jelly, and the mind starts to doubt what your heart once knew. Every mile, every sacrifice, every quiet act of courage suddenly feels too heavy to carry alone.
But then, someone reaches for you.
At our recent Spring 2026 CHW Training Graduation, one of our CHW (Community Health Worker) trainers’, Marilyn Gardner, shared a powerful story: a Boston Marathon runner collapsing near the finish line, only to be lifted by two fellow runners who refused to leave him behind. Arm in arm, the three crossed the finish line together – exhausted, determined, and cheered on by the public crowd. They made it – not alone, but together.
For our 14 remarkable graduates, this isn’t just a metaphor – it is a reflection of what they’ve lived. In our classrooms, these ‘marathon moments’ happen all the time.
Sometimes it’s a tear shed during a difficult conversation, a story shared aloud for the first time, or a classmate staying late after training just to check in.
Each May, as we honor AANHPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re reminded that healing and hope are not journeys to be taken alone. At Asian Women for Health, this truth comes alive in our CHW cohorts.
Since 2023, more than 100 students – many from immigrant and historically marginalized communities – have trained with us, bringing with them extraordinary resilience, cultural wisdom, and a shared commitment to building healthier communities. What begins in the classroom grows far beyond it: friendships, networks of care, and future community leaders strengthening the neighborhoods they call home.
This spring’s cohort also reflected something deeply important to us: that healing spaces must be places of belonging for all. Health equity is only possible when everyone feels seen, safe, and welcome.
Again and again, our graduates show us what’s possible when we show up for one another. Healing happens in community – in the moments when someone reaches out and says, ‘I’ve got you.’ This is the heart of our work and our classrooms are a living picture of hope, kindness, and celebration.
As we move through May, may we carry these marathon moments with us – honoring our cultures, caring for our mental health, and remembering that none of us crosses the finish line alone.
