Running a marathon is no mean feat, but just imagine running it topless. That is exactly what one breast cancer survivor did to embrace her mastectomy scars. Lauren Spiezia was one of the 60,000 people who took part in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on November 1, all in the name of a heroic cause.
With the eyes of the world watching her, the mom and business owner ran the entire 26.2-mile race topless to show the physical impact of her breast cancer battle. Spiezia of New Jersey told Newsweek that the New York City Marathon “felt like the right stage” to convey her message as the route took her past the very hospital where she was treated. She completed the race in 4:54:04, after teaming up with Memorial Sloan Kettering and Besound (a women’s health platform that provides a free Tyrer-Cuzick breast cancer risk assessment) as part of her campaign.
It’s about taking charge of our health, advocating for ourselves, and standing up for women’s health.” On November 15, 2024, Spiezia was just 31 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, mere weeks after noticing a lump. Staying active was vitally important throughout her treatment, which included chemotherapy, immunotherapy, a mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery. According to the American Cancer Society, about one in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime.
It is the most common cancer in women in the U.S. besides skin cancers, and it is the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Spiezia had never been an avid runner before, but she gradually built up her stamina during treatment. What started with daily walks turned into short runs which kept getting longer.
Eventually, she ran 13.1 miles and knew that a marathon was her next challenge. I caught myself turning inward to hide my chest, but I’d never done that before,” Spiezia said. She continued: “I promised myself I wouldn’t let shame dictate how I showed up in the world.
Running the marathon with my scars visible is how I’m keeping that promise. After all, those scars are evidence of what was needed to save my life—they’re a badge of honor.” New York State law dictates that it is legal for women to be topless in public, so Spiezia approached her medical team with the idea, and they supported the campaign from the beginning. She ran under Team LakLak (named after her beauty brand which launched on race day), a sub-team of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Fred’s Team.
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