TCOM student heads to Big Apple to run NYC Marathon to support the underserved in Uganda
26.2 miles is a long way to run on a surgically repaired foot, a medical student's
schedule and a few hours of sleep. But for Sydney Fluker, the miles are the motivation
as she runs in the 50th New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 1, for people half
a world away.
The first-year student at UNT Health Fort Worth’s Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
isn't running her third marathon to chase a personal record; she's running to raise
money for women and children in Uganda. Fluker is raising money for Nyaka, a nonprofit
organization supporting orphaned and vulnerable children, women and grandmothers in
the rural southwestern portion of Uganda.
Her goal is to raise $5,000 for the organization, which provides support in areas
including education and health care. The opportunity brings together two passions
that have helped shape Fluker’s medical journey -- running and improving health and
well-being in underserved communities.
“As someone pursuing a medical degree and a master’s in public health, this organization
tied a lot of my interests together,” Fluker said. “To be able to fundraise for such
an incredible organization that stands for the values I believe in on a global scale,
I felt like this was just perfect for what I want to represent and do in my future.”
Fluker’s connection to running began long before she started preparing for 26.2 miles
through New York City. Growing up, soccer was her primary sport, and it remained a
significant part of her life through high school. During her junior year, she joined
the cross-country team to build endurance for soccer. What began as a way to improve
at one sport soon became a passion of its own.
She found herself drawn to the sport and the camaraderie of her team. When the COVID-19
pandemic disrupted her senior year and brought changes to club and high school soccer,
running became a way to maintain some sense of normalcy.
“It was something that I just started to consistently implement for daily exercise,”
she said.
That habit followed her to college, where running became both physical exercise and
a way to manage stress. During her junior year of undergraduate studies, she signed
up for the Austin Half Marathon, turning the race into an annual tradition with friends.
Now preparing for her third marathon, Fluker has learned that endurance requires more
than physical strength.
This year’s preparation has been particularly challenging. Fluker underwent foot surgery
in March and was not cleared to run until the middle of July, leaving her with a shorter
training window than she had experienced before. At the same time, she has been navigating
the academic demands of medical school.
“Flexibility has been a big thing for me,” she said. “As important as school is to
me, running is a great break from that. I try to use that in a way as my study break,
to implement balance into my life.”
Her training has meant working around exams, waking up early or fitting in runs in
the evening, with longer distances reserved for weekends. Fluker discovered Nyaka
after a sorority sister ran the New York City Marathon for the organization in 2024.
Shortly after completing her first marathon in Austin, Fluker reached out to learn
how she could become involved.
The connection proved to be a natural fit. Nyaka’s work supporting vulnerable communities
aligned with her interests in medicine, public health and addressing barriers to care.
“It's been incredible to see what they have done in the community,” Fluker said.
Through Nyaka, she has found a way to support that work now, even as she continues her education.
Fluker hopes eventually to travel to Uganda to see Nyaka's work firsthand and connect
more directly with the communities it serves. Although her medical school schedule
makes an international trip difficult right now, she looks forward to the possibility
of witnessing the organization's impact and contributing in person.
“I would love to be able to go over there and help on a more direct level with those
communities,” she said. “It would be amazing to see the tangible difference we are
making in these lives.”
That desire to connect service with a deeper understanding of people's experiences
is also part of what draws her to osteopathic medicine and public health.
“Running is a huge part of why I chose the osteopathic profession, and my work with
Nyaka is what drew me to pursue an MPH as well,” Fluker said.
This year's marathon will look different from her previous races. After recovering
from foot surgery and balancing training with medical school, Fluker is approaching
the New York City course without a specific finishing-time goal.
Instead, she wants to appreciate the experience.
Having run the race last year, she remembers the energy of the city and the spectators
who encourage runners throughout the course. The opportunity to share the experience
with friends she has made through Nyaka and other runners raising money for charitable
causes is another reason she is looking forward to returning.
“In my opinion, it's the best marathon anyone can run,” she said. “New York comes
together in a way where you are cheered on and celebrated from the very first mile
all the way through.”
For now, her priorities remain school, fundraising and preparing for race day. She
is grateful that the marathon falls on a weekend that allows her to participate without
missing a major academic commitment.
As she prepares to run through New York's boroughs, Fluker will carry with her the
lessons running has taught her about perseverance, balance, and community. The miles
may test her physical limits, but the purpose behind them offers a reminder of why
she started, and that is what makes the marathon worth running.
To support Fluker in the marathon, go here.