Competitor bio:

Deirdre Keane is from NYC and works as a pediatric critical care nurse practitioner at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She started running in college in memory of her father, who was a marathoner and passed when she was a teenager from cancer. She got the running bug and has now completed 45 marathons (and 5 ultras!) around the world. Using running as a means to promote philanthropy has always been close to her heart. She is using the challenge as a means to fundraise for an important cause to her. Working during the pandemic impacted her mental health and so many of her colleagues'. It was eye opening for her how impactful depression can be and how difficult it can be to get help during one's lowest points. She will be running 7 marathons on the 7 continents in 7 days to raise money for Vibrant Emotional Health, a nonprofit that addresses mental health needs in NYC and across the nation by offering free services to those who may otherwise have difficulty accessing them and runs the National Suicide Prevention Hotline."