Wendy Valoyi’s running journey is driven by resilience and a commitment to raise awareness for disabilities and mental health. Supported by her family, she uses running to highlight important causes, including her own condition, Pulmonary Embolism DVT, and her daughter’s struggle with Blount disease. Running has become not just a form of motivation but a crucial coping mechanism for her clotting condition.
Valoyi also runs in honor of her late mother, who battled polio and was wheelchair-bound. Reflecting on her mother’s encouragement, Valoyi recalls how her mom urged her to keep running if it helped her health. “I don’t want you to end up in a wheelchair like me,” her mother said. Since that moment, Valoyi has made running a central part of her life, marking over 950 days of running therapy in memory of her mother.
Despite facing health challenges, including a serious hospitalization in December 2023, Valoyi has achieved remarkable feats. After spending weeks in the ICU with clotting issues, she returned to running and won a 56 km ultra-marathon in January 2024. With over 300 medals and more than 200 running shirts, Valoyi’s journey continues to inspire, showcasing the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.
