“2026 United Airlines NYC Half”
Official Charity Partnership
The Chinese FreeMasons Athletic Club is proud to announce our Official Charity Partnership for the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon through New York Road Runners. We have been allocated 5 guaranteed entries as a Community Level partner for runners who fundraise $1,000 to support the CFMAC mission. The 2026 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Did you know that the NYC Half is the only race that runs through Times Square!?
Please see our about us and programs sections of the website to learn more about what we do. As we prepare for Chinese New Year festivities, our Runner will have the opportunity to attend and participate in one of our Lion Dance practice sessions. Runners are also encourage to join us in our Chinese New Year Parade on 2/17/26 and Super Saturday Parade on 2/28/26 throughout Chinatown! Runners will be offered a 8 week strength training session at Chinatown Flow in preparation for the NYC Half.
If you are ready to fundraise and run, click the sign up button and tell us what running means to you!
*Runners are still responsible for their own registration fee for the race through NYRR:
$160 for non NYRR members / $135 for NYRR members
Meet the Runners!
Gain Lu
My running "story" began in 2016 after my 2nd pregnancy. I was advised by my physician to get more cardiovascular exercise to prevent diabetes. I took up running once a week. Before I knew it I was running my fist 5K and then my first 10K. I got into the 2020 NYC Marathon by lottery but it was cancelled due to the covid pandemic. I spent that year training and ran the marathon in 2021. I am now looking forward to running in the Berlin Marathon in 2026.
I grew up in Queens but my family made bi-weekly trips to Chinatown. I had very fond memories of Chinatown. When I got my doctorate in dentistry, I started working at the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. I've been serving the Chinese community since then. I joined the group Run for Chinatown in 2023. It was the ultimate combination of my love for running and my love for Chinatown. I am planning on running in the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon by fundraising for the Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club and as part of the Run for Chinatown Team.
Fundraising Link: https://fundraisers.nyrr.org/niaGgain-lu
Nicole Lam
I’m very excited to support the Chinese FreeMasons Athletic Club by running the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon. It's been 2 years since I've moved from Canada to New York City and I've been lonely here by myself. I miss my Chinese family/culture—speaking Cantonese, Sunday dim sum with my family, and visiting Chinese grocery stores. Running for this charity gives me a meaningful way to reconnect with my heritage and find a true “home away from home.”
By running the 2026 United Half, I bring together the two important passions of my life. I was never a runner before moving to New York. But since I've been lonely, I started running as a way to find community and friendship. Joining Run for Chinatown every Monday has shown me how powerful that community can be. By running for the Chinese FreeMasons Athletic Club, I can continue building my Chinese connections through my growing passion for running.
Most importantly, I want to fundraise for the Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club to give back to Chinatown (my new home away from home). From watching lion dances during Chinese New Year, visiting Chinese bakeries and Hong Kong cafés, getting dim sum, and even getting my hair cut just to speak Cantonese with the aunties, Chinatown has given me comfort, connection, and belonging. Running for this charity is my way of giving back to this amazing community that has welcomed me with open arms.
Fundraising Link: https://fundraisers.nyrr.org/nicole-lam-united
Joanne Wong
I'm so honored to be coming out of race retirement to run the NYC half on behalf of the Chinese Freemason's Athletic Club. This club offers programming for youths of Chinatown to experience pride for their cultural heritage and learn to take part in proliferating historic traditions all while staying healthy and developing lifelong connections. I hope to see CFMAC continue their programming for many years to come and I'm so excited to be able to contribute in this small way towards that end.
Fundraising Link: https://fundraisers.nyrr.org/joanne-wong