Tim McGraw

Musician Jeff McMahon of Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors will trade his keyboard for running shoes at the ING New York City Marathon on November 4, 2007, to lead the Tug McGraw Foundation team's effort to raise awareness and funds to increase the quality of life of brain tumor patients.

"From my perspective, it's a lot easier to train every day knowing that I'm running for somebody else and for something bigger than me," says McMahon.

A two-time marathoner and Tug McGraw Foundation board member, McMahon is running in memory of a little girl named Hannah, a young friend who succumbed to a brain tumor at age 5. Knowing Hannah's family provides McMahon with the inspiration to train, despite his hectic summer-long tour schedule. "Once you join a team, create a team yourself to accomplish your goals," advises McMahon. "Personalize [your] charity; learn about what you're committing to, and how those fund-raising dollars may affect somebody's life."

The Tug McGraw Foundation, named after "Ya Gotta Believe" catchphrase creator and former NY Mets Pitcher Tug McGraw (Tim McGraw's father), raises money to support the Tug McGraw Center at Duke University and to fund research programs designed to increase the quality of life of patients diagnosed with brain tumors.

Although McMahon has actively supported the Tug McGraw Foundation for some time, the ING New York City Marathon will mark his debut as a charity runner. Training while on a concert tour this summer with over 44 performances in more than 20 states and across Canada will require sacrifices that McMahon is confident he can make. Between sound checks, almost nightly shows, and day-long bus rides, finding the time to run is an exercise in flexibility. "I've been on the road with Tim for 14 years, running at some level for that time, and I do have to be flexible," says McMahon. "But, at the same time, it's always going to be fresh because you're in a different place constantly."

McMahon recalls watching Bill Rodgers run in the marathon in the late '70s, and, since then, harboring a desire to run in New York as well. "I think New York is going to be a blast," says McMahon. "I've always read that the community is so supportive of the race in New York. It seems like it's going to be a tremendous experience."