White Plains resident Ashley Petrullo will lace up for her ninth marathon and third New York City Marathon this weekend, running to raise awareness and funds for the Brain Injury Association of New York after the man she loves survived a devastating crash that upended both of their lives.
Petrullo and her boyfriend, Nick Franceski, were struck by an SUV while riding together on a Vespa scooter in Key West, Florida, on April 6, 2024, according to Lohud. The date marked the couple's third anniversary together and Petrullo's 33rd birthday. Franceski had been driving the scooter, and neither of them was wearing a helmet.
Petrullo suffered road rash, a concussion and a shin fracture in the crash. Franceski's injuries were far more severe: he sustained a traumatic brain injury and was first taken to Lower Keys Medical Center before being flown by helicopter to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, the outlet's report states.
A Monthslong Fight for Recovery
Franceski spent a month in a medically induced coma. Doctors later removed part of his skull to relieve pressure buildup in his brain. Franceski has undergone roughly 10 surgical procedures, by Petrullo's estimate.
His recovery included a transfer to a facility in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Running Toward Normal Life
A systematic review found that caregivers' reports of a loved one's neurobehavioral problems are a probable predictor of the caregivers' own emotional distress, according to a Cambridge-published study, while separate research in PubMed found caregiver resilience is tied to lower burden and distress.
She has run the New York City Marathon twice before.
Fundraising Amid a Record Charity Season
Petrullo is raising money for the Brain Injury Association of New York. Her effort is part of a much larger wave of charity fundraising tied to this year's race: New York Road Runners announced it had surpassed its $100 million charity fundraising goal ahead of the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, according to New York Road Runners. More than 670 official charity partners are participating this year, the most in the race's history, with roughly 60% based in New York City. The milestone coincides with the 50th anniversary of the five-borough marathon course and the 20th anniversary of the Official Charity Partner Program.
Last year alone, more than 14,000 charity runners raised $80 million for more than 600 nonprofit organizations through the program, New York Road Runners reported, while the organization's Team for Kids initiative has raised more than $138 million since 2002.
Petrullo and Franceski have discussed engagement rings as they continue navigating the long road since the crash. For Petrullo, Sunday's run through the city's five boroughs is a personal milestone and a way to raise awareness and funds for the Brain Injury Association of New York.
