QCP & QEDC Host Queens Cheer Section for TCS NYC Marathon

The TCS NYC Marathon is just around the corner, and if you’re not running this year but want to be a part of the excitement, Queens Centers for Progress (QCP) invites you to join their special cheer section! Partnering with QEDC and the Queens Tourism Council, QCP will be rallying support for runners as they pass through Long Island City. The cheer section will meet on Sunday, November 3rd at 10 a.m. on 44th Drive and 21st Street in Long Island City, which is the race’s halfway point.

This will be the 14th year that QCP has teamed up with QEDC to set up a cheer station for the marathon. As an official NYRR Charity Partner, QCP will not only be cheering for the thrill of the race, but for their team of runners who are raising funds and awareness for the work QCP does for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Joining in the excitement will be Achilles International, an organization dedicated to training athletes with disabilities to participate in mainstream sports by pairing them with able-bodied guides to complete the arduous course. Hundreds of Achilles Athletes will be running that day. Additionally, student volunteers from Bayside High School’s Key Club and John Bowne High School’s Arista Honor Society will be cheering alongside QCP, ensuring a supportive and energetic atmosphere to keep the runners motivated as they “visit” Queens.

To top it all off, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., Assemblywoman Alicia L. Hyndman and Councilman James F. Gennaro, will also be in attendance, welcoming the runners to Queens and celebrating the borough’s resilience and unity. Their presence highlights the strength of the community coming together for such an inspiring event.

“I’m so looking forward to cheering on the awesome TCS NYC Marathon runners as they swing through Queens,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “I know my fellow Queens community members will bring great energy to our cheer section in Long Island City, and create a great memory of our borough for the runners. Good luck to all!”

Queens Tourism Council Director, Rob MacKay, also expressed his excitement about supporting QCP’s annual effort, remarking, “We’re so happy Queens Centers for Progress is spearheading this effort again. It’s really fun to participate in the cheer station, and the runners really appreciate the love we share. The marathon has been an iconic part of New York living for decades and the cheer station has quickly become an iconic part of it.”

Bringing it back to QCP’s mission, Wendy Phaff, Director of Development at QCP, emphasizes the community’s role in creating an unforgettable experience for the runners, stating, “The cheer section is an opportunity for residents in Queens to unite and show the world what we are made of. It’s amazing how having us there to lift the runners’ spirits and to show our support along the course makes such a difference. It gives them something to remember our borough for, something to talk about when all is said and done.”

People of all ages are welcome in the cheer section. Interested parties can RSVP by November 1st to devteam@queenscp.org or filling out this form.

ABOUT QCP

Queens Centers for Progress is committed to providing person-centered services and support to children and adults who have developmental disabilities. The goal of these services and supports is to promote independence, community involvement, and quality of life. The organization offers a comprehensive array of services to meet the needs of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families.

For more information, please contact Wendy-Phaff Gennaro at (718) 380-3000, ext. 325, or via email at WPhaffGennaro@queenscp.org.