Miles that Bind: Marion & Weinstein

For Laura Marion, Team Allied Services has always been more than a marathon team. It is a mission. It is a community. It is a reflection of the care, compassion, and hope that Allied Services provides to individuals and families every day.

As Assistant Vice President of Allied Services Hospice and Palliative Care, and as a Team Allied Services alumna, Laura knows firsthand what it means to serve others with compassion, to witness resilience in the face of challenge, and to be part of a mission that improves quality of life for patients, residents, clients, and families.

Her own experience running with Team Allied was unforgettable, filled with moments of challenge, encouragement, and pride. But this year, her connection to the team feels even more personal.

This year, Laura is watching her daughter, Clair Marion, her niece, Emma Marion, and Clair’s college roommate, Jenna Weinstein, take on the journey as members of Team Allied Services.

For Laura, seeing the people she loves support the mission she has dedicated her life’s work to is deeply emotional.

“Being able to have the people you love support the very cause that you have dedicated your life’s work to is simply one of my life’s greatest blessings,” Laura shared. “The pride I feel knowing that Clair, Emma and Jenna are spending their time training and raising funds for Allied Services is beyond words.”

Emma, Laura’s niece, has been competing in marathons for some time. Over the years, Laura and Emma had many conversations about the possibility of Emma running for Team Allied Services. When Emma was officially accepted to the team, Laura was elated.

For Clair, the path to Team Allied grew from her own developing love of running. After graduating, Clair completed her first half marathon, an experience that sparked something in her. She went on to complete her first marathon and knew she would one day run another. For Laura, the next step felt natural.

“You need to run for Team Allied,” she told her.

Clair had already shared in Laura’s own Team Allied journey, running alongside her during training the previous year. Those miles became cherished memories between mother and daughter.

“How fun to be able to run with your daughter and train together,” Laura said. “Now, I get to return the favor and run with her on her long runs.”

Over the past year, Clair has also become part of the Allied Services family as an employee. Through her work, she has been able to see the mission up close and experience the incredible support that surrounds Team Allied Services. That energy and enthusiasm soon reached Jenna Weinstein, Clair’s college roommate, who was inspired to join the team as well.

Now, Clair, Emma, and Jenna are each preparing for the TCS New York City Marathon, raising funds and awareness for Allied Services while carrying forward a mission rooted in compassion, resilience, and community.

For Laura, the meaning of family is woven throughout every part of this story.

“Family means showing up - not just for the big moments, but all the little moments and bumps in the road along the way,” she said.

In running, that support matters. It can be found in the encouragement before a long run, the belief offered during difficult training days, and the steady reminder that no one has to face a challenge alone. Running may be considered an individual sport, but through Team Allied Services, the journey is anything but solitary.

“Family are the people who cheer you on, lift you up when you’re struggling, celebrate your accomplishments as if they were their own, and remind you why you started,” Laura shared.

That is the spirit Clair, Emma, and Jenna carry into their marathon journey. They are running for one another. They are running for Laura. They are running for the patients, residents, clients, families, and caregivers who benefit from Allied Services’ life-changing care and compassion. They are also running for something bigger than themselves.

For Laura, their commitment is a profound reminder that Allied Services’ mission reaches far beyond the walls of its programs and facilities. It lives in the people who believe in it. It inspires families, friends, coworkers, and communities to come together in support of others.

“To see Clair, Emma and Jenna take this on is incredibly meaningful,” Laura said. “It is a profound reminder that the mission I’ve dedicated my life’s work to has also inspired the people I love most.”

As race day approaches, Laura will be cheering them on with the pride of an alumna, the heart of a mother and aunt, and the perspective of a leader who sees every day how compassionate care can change lives.

For Clair, Emma, and Jenna, every mile will represent family, friendship, purpose, and the belief that when people come together for a mission rooted in helping others, the impact can go far beyond the finish line.

To support Emma Marion, Clair Marion, and Jenna Weinstein on their Team Allied Services journey, please visit their individual fundraising pages below.

Clair: https://fundraisers.nyrr.org/mary-clair-marion
Emma: https://fundraisers.nyrr.org/emma-marion
Jenna: https://fundraisers.nyrr.org/jenna-weinstein