Samantha Hallum Scott crossed the finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon on Nov. 1, covering 26.2 miles in more than six hours despite a knee injury around mile 16 — 15 days after her husband, Casey Scott, died unexpectedly. She completed the race in support of GO2 for Lung Cancer, the charity team Samantha had chosen for the marathon before his death.
Casey Scott, 48, died on Oct. 17, the day after suffering cardiac arrest and a traumatic brain injury, according to Gulf Coast Media. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2025 after battling double pneumonia, and as his health declined he had posted on Oct. 14 that he planned to travel to New York to watch Samantha run. His lungs began failing on Oct. 16, when he went into cardiac arrest; emergency crews revived him, but he suffered a traumatic brain injury from oxygen loss during the medical emergency and died the next day.
A separate Gulf Coast Media remembrance reported that Scott collapsed at home on a Friday and went into cardiac arrest the following Friday morning. A CT scan on Saturday confirmed the traumatic brain injury before he died that day, Oct. 17. The remembrance also noted that, shortly before his collapse, he had been looking forward to seeing Samantha run on Nov. 1.
A Charity Team Chosen Before Tragedy Struck
Samantha chose GO2 for Lung Cancer as her marathon charity team, connecting the run to Casey’s lung cancer diagnosis. Casey referred to her choice in a post before his death. On Oct. 30, Samantha wrote from the airport that she had signed up with the team, Gulf Coast Media reported.
The charity effort in context
New York Road Runners reported that more than 14,000 charity runners raised a record $80 million for more than 600 charities at the 2025 marathon, according to New York Road Runners. That event-wide total provides context for Samantha Scott’s individual fundraising effort. GO2 for Lung Cancer says it connects people with one-on-one assistance, treatment information and care options close to home. The organization’s description outlines those services but does not specify how funds raised by individual endurance-event teams are used, according to GO2 for Lung Cancer.
Gulf Coast Media reported that Samantha continued after the knee injury around mile 16 rather than stopping. She finished in more than six hours, completing the full 26.2-mile course through New York City’s five boroughs.
Remembering Casey's Work and Art
Casey worked for Island Fiber, now Point Broadband, in Orange Beach, where the earlier Gulf Coast Media remembrance described him as often the first smiling face customers would see in his sales role. Outside of work, he painted pet portraits through his business, Casey on Canvas, and had more recently begun a new chapter with C Scott Art, with his work displayed at the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach.
Scott is survived by Samantha and their two sons. Gulf Coast Media reported that Samantha said she had not realized how many people loved Casey and was grateful for support from the Alabama Gulf Coast community after his death.
Running With Him in Mind
Gulf Coast Media reported that Samantha said she asked Casey for strength as she ran the marathon. Her finish carried forward the charity effort she had chosen in connection with his diagnosis, turning the race into a tribute to him.
