Kat Timpf has shared an emotional thank-you after thousands of people supported her sister Julia’s New York City Marathon fundraiser for cancer research.
The Gutfeld! personality revealed that Julia completed the marathon and that the fundraiser had brought in more than $400,000 for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where Kat said she was treated for cancer last year.
The milestone came after Kat spoke about the fundraiser on television and watched donations climb far beyond what she and her sister had expected.
“I’ve been crying on and off all day,” Kat said in an earlier video, describing herself as overwhelmed by the generosity.
A fundraising total that surprised both sisters
Before Julia ran the marathon, Kat explained that the fundraiser stood at $125,000 when she mentioned it on Gutfeld! She and Julia had hoped the television mention might bring in another $20,000.
Instead, the total climbed to more than $300,000.
Kat said there had been a couple of larger contributions, but most of the money came from small donations made by thousands of people.
“I’ve been so overwhelmed with gratitude,” she said.
The cause has a personal connection for Kat, who said Memorial Sloan Kettering was the hospital where she received cancer treatment.
“I’m not glad that I had cancer,” she said. “We wouldn’t have raised this money if I didn’t have cancer, so there is something for me to be grateful for.”
Kat also spoke candidly about the pain she has experienced and the challenges she continues to face at times, including being unable to breastfeed during her pregnancy.
Julia crosses the finish line
After the marathon, Kat returned to Instagram with another update: Julia had finished the race, and the fundraising total had grown again.
“WE DID IT! Julia finished the NYC Marathon,” she wrote, announcing that they had raised more than $400,000 for cancer research.
In a photo accompanying the post, the sisters stood together wearing orange Fred’s Team shirts. Julia displayed her marathon medal, while Kat held a bright pink sign with their surname.
Kat thanked the thousands of people who contributed and said she was moved that so much of the total came from small donations.
“It makes me cry when I think about how it was made up of mostly small donations from so many people who care,” she wrote.
She also praised her sister: “I am so, so, SO proud of you, Julia.”
In her earlier video, Kat had given Julia a shout-out with a touch of humor, noting that her sister was the one who actually had to run the marathon.
A meaningful birthday and messages of support
The donations also arrived at an emotional time for Kat, who said she had just spent her first birthday without her father.
“Watching all these donations come in made it a great day,” she said.
Kat thanked Gutfeld! viewers and everyone who contributed, saying the response had reminded her that there are people who care.
Followers celebrated the sisters’ achievement in the comments beneath her marathon update.
“So awesome!! Sisters are the best!!” one person wrote.
Another commented, “God Bless you both and all of those who supported your cause,” while someone else added, “What good people you are and what good people the donators are.”
Kat said the fundraiser will remain open through the end of the year for anyone who would still like to contribute at FredsTeam.org/JuliaTimpf.
