Our NeighborsSaturday, November 7
A GoFundMe raised more than $92,000 in a day for a foundation in Rachel Apa's name
The Daily Harrisburg team
Rachel Apa, 24, of Lewisberry, collapsed near the 24-mile marker of the New York City Marathon on Sunday and died hours later. It was her first marathon. Her father said doctors told him the cause was rhabdomyolysis, a rare muscle injury, and a GoFundMe in her name raised more than $92,000 in one day.
Donations poured in for Rachel Apa's foundation
- $92,000+
- raised on GoFundMe in one day
- Nearly 900
- donations at the time of writing
- 17
- goals in her Bucknell field hockey career
Sources: WHP Harrisburg, WGAL
Her family said all proceeds will create the Rachel Apa Foundation, which will focus on educating people about rhabdo. A WellSpan nephrologist explained that muscle damage severe enough to cause organ failure and death is extremely rare in an otherwise healthy person.
Apa collapsed around 1:30 p.m. and was declared dead around 9:40 p.m.
- Mile 14A video her mother took shows Apa smiling.
- Mile 18She reportedly texts her father "Ow."
- Mile 19She reportedly sends another text: "Ow, Ow."
- 1:30 p.m.At about this time, a spectator sees her collapse near the 24-mile marker.
- 9:40 p.m.Her father says she was declared dead at the hospital at about this time.
Source: WHP Harrisburg
- Running for: Parkinson's Champions, in honor of her grandfather
- High school: Red Land, class of 2020
- College: Bucknell field hockey, graduated in 2024
- Family's long-term hope: rapid on-course medical care at endurance races
Sources: WHP Harrisburg, WGAL, Altoona Mirror