When Burien’s Jessica Bedolla-Mendoza lines up for the New York City Marathon on Nov. 2, 2025, she will be running not only for herself but also for children across the country.
The 2019 Highline High School graduate and current elementary school teacher for Highline Public Schools is raising money for Team for Kids, a charity that supports youth through running and fitness programs.
“I grew up in Burien, and today I’m a teacher in the Highline School District,” Bedolla-Mendoza told The B-Town Blog. “This cause is very personal to me because I know firsthand the impact teachers can make on a student’s life. My own teachers in Highline inspired me, shaped who I am today, and ultimately led me to pursue teaching as my career.”
As a student at Highline High, Bedolla-Mendoza ran track and cross country all four years, qualified for state each year, and placed at state twice. She also served as ASB president her senior year, experiences she says helped build her passion for leadership and community.
Now, as an educator, she said she hopes to inspire her own students while giving back by running in the largest marathon in the world.
“Every mile I run and every dollar raised goes toward sparking a child’s future,” Bedolla-Mendoza said. “Every mile, every dollar makes a difference.”
The New York City Marathon was first held in 1970, organized by the New York Road Runners (NYRR) and co-founded by Fred Lebow and Vince Chiappetta. That inaugural race featured just 127 entrants who ran multiple laps around Central Park, with only 55 finishing. Today, it is the largest marathon in the world, drawing tens of thousands of participants from around the globe and millions of spectators, both in person and on television.
In a message on her fundraising page, she also reflected on the role running has played in her life:
“Running has been a huge part of my healing journey,” she wrote. “It’s not just something I do for fitness—it’s something that’s saved me during my hardest seasons. As a Latina runner, representation is incredibly important to me. I run with pride—for my culture, for my students, and for those who’ve gone through things that could have broken them but didn’t.”
You can help Bedolla-Mendoza and “her kids” by donating online at her official NYRR fundraising page here.
