LI's Chef Eric LeVine Running NYC Marathon For Late Brother: 'He's My Motivation'

FARMINGDALE, NY — At age 55, Eric LeVine is running his first major marathon — the New York City Marathon — on Nov. 3. LeVine vowed to cross the finish line by "any means necessary."

"I will run, skip or crawl across," he told Patch.

LeVine, an award-winning chef who plies his trade at 317 Main Street in Farmingdale, has always maintained a never-say-die attitude — it's core to his success. The marathon, he said, will probably be "the most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever done in my life." He said he will "100 percent" rely on something extra to keep him going for the full 26.2-mile stretch: the memory of his little brother, Ethan.

Ethan died of glioblastoma brain cancer around three years ago.

"He’s my motivation to do it, because I’ll hear him in my soul saying 'You’ve got this' when I feel like giving up," LeVine said. "'One more mile, one more block, one more run. Keep pushing.'" I hear him in my head. It’s the joy of knowing his memory and he’s the reason why I’m doing this — to help raise money and awareness and do something to really give him his props in how much he’s affected me. When he was alive, I wish I would’ve [ran the marathon] then."

LeVine, a six-time cancer survivor who battled multiple types of leukemia, is fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during his bid to complete the NYC Marathon. He has raised more than $6,600 of his $10K goal as of Monday afternoon.

People can donate to LeVine's cause here if they'd wish.

"Donate a dollar, donate $5, whatever," he said. "Whatever you can spare. It all helps. It all goes to a great charity."

LeVine felt the society's cause is closest to his heart, he said. His diagnosis with Richter's syndrome, an advanced form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, was terminal, he said.

"Leukemia has taken so many people I know but has given me so much opportunity to be able to be better," LeVine said. "To do for others. To be a little bit of a beacon of hope when there is no hope for some people. The amount of people who I talk to all the time who know my struggle or my challenge, they reach out for hope. They reach out for a little bit of inspiration and some kind words."

LeVine said he had never been that type of person before but was pushed into that status because of his own trials. He has accepted the role and said he tries to help keep people positive, understand lessons from his own cancer battles and grow from it.

LeVine has led fundraisers for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at 317 Main Street before and encouraged anyone who can "give a little bit" to do so.

"When someone’s down, you help them as much as you can," he said. "There’s no limit to what you can do when you put your mind to it."

LeVine said he continues to understand the influence Ethan has had not only on him, but on the world.

"It’s crazy how after he passed away, how many people who have come out of the woodwork telling my mom, my older brother and I how he’s saved their lives," LeVine said. "The impact he’s had on people, to this day, is massive. I get messages all the time. 'I’m glad to see you’re doing well, I’m glad you’re doing this in your brother’s memory.' He was a special kid. Ethan was wise beyond his years. He was deeper than anyone I’ve ever met. For me, coming to this point, I’ve learned a lot from him now about soul, depth and mind consciousness, and understanding how it could affect everything in your life. How it affects relationships with the people around you and the people you love."

LeVine said his relationship with his girlfriend, Deb, has been "nothing short of amazing" and has opened him up to new things.

LeVine said he is looking forward to the marathon and the challenges it will pose. There is fear associated with it, but he intends to make his brother proud, he said.

"I’m scared as sh--, but I will do it, and I will be able to hold that medal about my head and say, 'This one’s for you Ethan,'" LeVine said. "For those who can’t. You always have to do it for those who can’t."

LeVine said he is less confident about finishing the marathon than he was a few months ago, despite the improvements he has seen with his times. LeVine has been running 14-minute miles recently, shaving five minutes off the 19 minutes he started at, he said. The chef said he has a bad knee with no cartilage between the bones of his left leg and has had to learn how to run without hurting himself.

"For those who don’t run, 26.2 miles is a long, long distance," LeVine said. "Never being a runner and now becoming a runner, I really have an appreciation for those who do it in two hours and change. You’ve got to be a gazelle for that."

LeVine has been training since January — there has been nothing easy or fun about it, he said. Part of his routine is "gating" himself; he picks a sign or lamp in the distance and runs to it.

LeVine said he is not looking to win a marathon or set a record time — it's all about honoring Ethan while raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

"My goal is to do 5-and-a-half hours," he said. "If I hit six, it’s fine. I just don’t want to be behind the sweepers who are cleaning up the street from all the real marathon runners."

LeVine was initially planning on running the marathon with his friend, Joel "Whammy" Kaufman. Kaufman was the very last person to cross the finish line in the 2023 NYC Marathon, LeVine said. However, Kaufman was pushed to the front of the pack, which is set to start running at 8 a.m., according to LeVine. The chef won't start until 10:30 or 11 a.m., he said.

"I’ll still catch up to him. He’ll be walking, I’ll be running. I just want to catch up to his a--," LeVine said.

The marathon's Nov. 3 date holds significance to LeVine — it marks the three-year anniversary of his health and fitness journey. LeVine has dropped 185 pounds over the past three years.

"My anniversary of that and to be able to be on the marathon is pretty cool," he said. "It just shows you that you can do anything. It shows what you can do with a mindset. I know I’m going to need my mindset to be strong that day."

He said is embracing the challenge, adding he has friends who are marathon runners who are supporting him.

"The energy is right. Deb will drive me to the ferry, and she will pick me up at the finish line. Maybe she’ll spot me there with my daughter. I can’t lie and say I’m not nervous, because it’s something I’ve never done. And here I am running. I’m used to running through things. Not for marathons. I’ve got my shoes, I’ve got my leggings, and I’ve got my mindset. Ready to rock and roll."