From Syracuse to Sydney: 10,000 Miles with 26.2 to Go

Alex Zwierzynski ’21, P.A. ’22 Will Run the Newest World Major Marathon in Support of Brain Cancer Research

Late this summer Alex Zwierzynski ’21, P.A. ’22, will board a plane and travel nearly 10,000 miles from his home in Syracuse to Sydney, Australia. Zwierzynski’s journey will not end there. Once he arrives in Sydney, the Le Moyne alumnus will take a few days to adjust to the 10-hour time change before beginning another trek that, while significantly shorter, will require much more of him physically and mentally: the 2026 Sydney marathon.

Zwierzynski is running the marathon to raise funds for StacheStrong, a nonprofit organization based in Vestal, New York, dedicated to supporting brain cancer research. He is running in memory of his father-in-law, Ed Fish, the beloved father of Rachel Fish-Zwierzynski ’21, M.S. ’22. Ed passed away in 2021 of anaplastic astrocytoma.

Those close to Zwierzynski are not surprised that he would choose to push himself in this way. As an undergraduate studying biology at Le Moyne, Zwierzynski was a member of the National Jesuit Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Nu, and the National Biological Science Honor Society, Beta Beta Beta. He received the Marie Arnold Chapin Medal in Biological Sciences and the H. Paul Nelligan Medal in Pure Science for his high achievement within his major. He continued his Le Moyne education in the College’s Physician Assistant Studies Program. He served as the president of the Physician Assistant Student Society and received the Father J. Bucki Memorial Award in recognition of his dedication to community service and medical humanities.

Today Zwierzynski balances training for the marathon with his full-time role as a physician assistant at Reflections Dermatology in Syracuse. That means lots of early mornings and long miles, staying on top of fueling and hydration, and prioritizing rest. Still Zwierzynski says it’s worth it to help support a cause that means so much to him and his family. The fact that he will be running in Sydney makes it all the more exciting. It is the most recent marathon to be designated an Abbott Marathon World Major, joining Berlin, Boston, London, New York and Tokyo. In its inaugural year as a Major in 2025, the race drew nearly 33,000 finishers from over 100 countries.

Sydney will not be Zwierzynski’s first marathon. That honor belongs to New York City, which he raced in 2023 as part of a team that raised $165,000 for StacheStrong. He and Rachel have also raced multiple 5Ks in support of the organization.

“When people ask me what motivates me to run, I tell them I think it’s the hills and valleys that come along with it,” he says. “The hills are when you’re feeling absolutely amazing, on top of the world and the valleys are when you have to fight to keep moving forward. It’s just life in that sense.”

And when he crosses the finish line, he will be wearing a bracelet that belonged to Ed.