Meet Josh Polito and follow his amazing journey.
Un-Afraid: Running for Breath
In 2026, Josh Polito will run the FOOLS Ultra—hundreds of miles across New York State—to fuel sarcoidosis research and patient support.
Every mile is a breath of hope. Join the run.
Josh was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis in 2020. He found the Life & Breath Foundation shortly afterward and we were able to support him in navigating living a full life with a chronic illness.
In the fall of 2022, Josh completed his first half-marathon (13.1-mile run). Within 36 hours of finishing, Josh set his sites on completing the Atlantic City 70.3 Ironman on Sept 10th, 2023.
The Life & Breath Foundation is proud to be sponsoring Josh as he takes on his boldest challenge yet: the FOOLS Ultra—to honor those living with sarcoidosis and to help fund the science and support that change lives.
Josh’s 2026 Fools Ultra Attempt
Distance: 420 miles (multiday stage)
Pace target: ~32 miles/day
Timing: September 2026 (exact dates TBA)
How You Can Help
1) Donate
Help us get this mission up and running (pun intended). Any amount moves us forward.
What we need…
Race Registration
Gear (Backpack, shoes, socks, van, tent, all the food!!)
Marketing and Promo
What we want…
Dream team to film a documentary of the race
[Donate Now]
2) Dedicate a Mile
Honor someone you love. Choose a mile along the route; we’ll share their name and story in our updates that day.
$500 per mile (420 available)
Includes name on the Mile Wall, social shout-out, and a photo from the road
[Dedicate a Mile]
3) Become a Sponsor
Partner with us to reach runners, health advocates, and communities across New York State.
Sponsorship Tiers
Finish Line Sponsor – $25,000+
Premier logo on jerseys & finish assets, feature video, press inclusion, on-site acknowledgment.Marathon Sponsor – $10,000
Prominent logo on digital assets, route updates, mile highlight content, press kit listing.Stage Sponsor – $5,000
Logo on daily update graphics + one dedicated stage-day mention.Mile Marker Sponsor – $1,000
Logo on Mile Wall + social thanks on assigned day.In-Kind Sponsor (gear, lodging, nutrition, media)
Benefits matched to value.
Learn more: Abigail@LifeandBreath.org
4) Follow Along
Make sure you are following Josh and Life & Breath and engage with this story!
5) Share the Story
Help us reach more lungs and lives. Do you have a friend who would love this story? Do you have a contact who would want to support Josh’s journey in some way? Help us by reaching out to your contacts and introducing us!
Share! Share! Share
Campaign Timeline
Fall 2025–Summer 2026: Training updates, sponsor onboarding, mile dedications open
August 2026: Route previews, volunteer sign-ups, press briefings
September 2026: Race month — live tracking, daily videos, impact updates
October 2026: Celebration & impact report
Updates from Josh…
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes—contributions to the Life & Breath Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. A receipt will be emailed to you.
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Yes. Choose your mile, share a name and (optional) story. We’ll highlight dedications in daily updates.
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We’ll use a GPS tracker with public updates posted on our site and social channels.
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Absolutely. Ask your HR team about matching gifts and let us know so we can credit your impact.
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Awesome! Please email me at Abigail@LifeandBreath.org