2026 Citizens Miles that Matter Award Winner Spotlight Dan Paparelli

Citizens Miles That Matter is a community-driven platform, launched in partnership with New York Road Runners, that recognizes purpose-driven New Yorkers whose marathon journeys create meaningful impact across their communities. The program celebrates individuals who embody the spirit of the race, grit, resilience, leadership, and generosity, and who use the marathon as a platform for service, leadership, and giving back, not just personal achievement.

For Dan Paparelli, running began as a personal challenge. Over time, it became something much more meaningful. It became a way to support the children and families he serves, honor their resilience and give back to the borough that inspires him every day.

While running initially started as a personal pursuit, it gradually took on a deeper purpose. The lessons Dan encountered through his work began to influence how he approached every mile. What started as an individual challenge became an opportunity to channel gratitude into action, supporting causes that align with the needs of the communities he serves. Beyond the physical challenge, running gives him space to reflect, recharge and reconnect with his purpose in healthcare. The discipline required to train for a race mirrors the persistence he sees in his patients.

Representing Queens, Dan is running in support of The Floating Hospital, an organization dedicated to delivering healthcare and critical support services to underserved children across New York City. The cause reflects both his professional mission and his personal values. As a pediatric ICU nurse in Washington Heights, Dan has devoted his career to caring for children during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Through running, he has found another way to extend that commitment beyond the walls of the hospital.

For Dan, being a nurse helps him care for children who can't advocate for themselves. He believes that it's important for everyone to have access to health care, which he calls "a human right."

That belief shapes his work every day. Caring for critically ill children requires compassion, dedication and an unwavering commitment to helping families navigate challenging circumstances. It also provides a unique perspective on resilience, one that has influenced how Dan approaches life outside the hospital.

The children he cares for have become some of his greatest sources of inspiration. One patient in particular left a lasting impression. Dan said, "He couldn't really move much, but what he lacked in mobility, he made up for emotionally. I think he taught me so much about pushing your limits and really going further and pushing past what you thought you could."

The experience reinforced lessons that would later shape his running journey. Witnessing the determination of children facing extraordinary challenges gave him a deeper appreciation for perseverance and the power to push forward, even when the path is difficult.

Dan believes that progress is often measured one step at a time, and meaningful achievements are built through consistency, determination and support from others. 

Whether navigating complex medical situations or supporting a child through recovery, families often demonstrate remarkable resilience. The strength of patient's families has become a source of inspiration for Dan, motivating him to find ways to make an impact beyond his professional responsibilities. Running has provided a means to do exactly that: transforming personal effort into support for causes that help children and families thrive.

So, The Floating Hospital was a natural choice for Dan.

The Floating Hospital's mission closely reflects the work he performs daily. Both are rooted in the belief that every child deserves access to quality care and the opportunity to achieve the healthiest future possible. Supporting The Floating Hospital allows him to contribute to that vision in a different but complementary way.

The Floating Hospital also represents an opportunity to extend his impact beyond the patients he encounters directly. While his work in the hospital focuses on caring for individual children and families, supporting The Floating Hospital helps advance access to services that can benefit vulnerable communities throughout the city. It is a way to help address broader challenges while remaining connected to the same purpose that guides his career.

As he prepares to take on this challenge representing Queens, Dan carries with him the inspiration he draws from the people he serves. This resilience continues to shape his perspective and fuel his commitment to making a difference. Every mile becomes an expression of gratitude for the lessons they have taught him and a reminder of the importance of investing in the health and wellbeing of others.

Dan's story demonstrates how personal passions can become powerful tools for service.

For him, every mile is a tribute to the resilience he witnesses each day and a step toward a healthier future for the children and families who inspire him. Through running and nursing, he remains committed to a simple but powerful goal: helping ensure that every child has the opportunity to receive the care and support they deserve.