Frequently Asked Questions

Fred’s Team, the official running program of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), gives every runner the opportunity to add more meaning to their miles by raising money for lifesaving cancer research at MSK. 100% of the money raised goes directly into the labs at MSK, where groundbreaking discoveries are making a real difference for people around the world. 

Official Fred’s Team events include the TCS New York City Marathon, United Airlines NYC Half, TCS London Marathon, and BMW Berlin Marathon. Participants can also raise money with Fred’s Team by registering for run in any race, creating an online fundraising page, or starting a memorial or honorary fundraising page. 

Fred’s Team was created to honor the life and legacy of Fred Lebow, co-founder of the New York City Marathon. Read more about Fred. 

Founded in 1884, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is the world’s oldest and largest private cancer center. The close collaboration between doctors and researchers is one of its greatest strengths — ensuring that drugs and therapies developed in the lab can be quickly transformed into treatment options that will benefit people with cancer worldwide. 

100% of the money raised by Fred’s Team goes to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for lifesaving cancer research — providing new and better treatments for patients worldwide. Fred’s Team participants choose to support the area of cancer research that means the most to them. 

Fred’s Team is owned and operated by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. MSK’s 501(c)(3) tax identification is: 13-1924236. Your gift to Fred’s Team is 100% tax deductible. You will receive a confirmation receipt via email after submitting your online donation. Please save this email receipt for your tax records. For all gifts made by check, you will receive a written acknowledgment in the mail. 

If you’re interested in running with Fred’s Team and need a race entry, you must fill out an application. If you have your own entry, you do not need to apply. Email fredsteam@mskcc.org to let us know you have a race entry. 

If you have joined Fred’s Team in the past or if you’ve registered for an event and canceled, any outstanding fundraising balance must be fulfilled in order to qualify for an entry. If you’re looking to run your own race with Fred’s Team, register here. No application is needed. You can also create an online fundraising page or start a memorial or honorary fundraising page. 

All official Fred’s Team events have separate applications and deadlines to apply. For more information, visit our Events page and click on the race you want to run. Runners will be selected on a rolling basis until spots have been filled, and applications will be kept on file in case of cancellations. We are looking for people who are passionate about fundraising for cancer research at MSK and advancing MSK’s mission of ending cancer for life. 

Yes. There is a Fred’s Team kickoff fee to register for the TCS New York City Marathon, United Airlines NYC Half, TCS London Marathon, BMW Berlin Marathon, and run in any race. All kickoff fees are 100% tax-deductible donations and are applied to your fundraising total.

Yes. Select the “I have an entry” option when you register. You do not need to apply.  

Yes. Any event can be a Fred’s Team fundraiser! Get started here. Every dollar you raise will go directly to cancer research at MSK. Plus, you'll also receive training support, a two-piece uniform, an online fundraising page, and much more! Note: Our official events are not eligible for run in any race registration. 

No. We welcome runners of all levels! You’ll receive expert training from our coaching staff every step of the way. Plus, the Fred’s Team staff will provide dedicated fundraising support to help you achieve your fundraising goal.

Yes. Runners worldwide have joined Fred’s Team for our official events as well as many other races. 

Fred’s Team runners are given the ultimate experience with exclusive race-day benefits as well as a comprehensive training program, dedicated coaches, an online fundraising page, a custom uniform, and much more! Plus, 100% of the money you raise will go to the research area at MSK of your choice. 

For Fred’s Team official event registrants, uniforms will ship after you reach 50% of your fundraising requirement. For run in any race participants, uniforms will ship after you reach 50% of your fundraising goal. 

Corporate partners can make a big difference in the fight against cancer, whether it’s through sponsorships, in-kind donations, matching gifts, or creating an employee running team. For more information, visit our Corporate Support page or email us at fredsteam@mskcc.org. 

All Fred’s Team participants who receive a race entry from us must raise the minimum fundraising requirement for the event by the fundraising deadline. Runners with their own race entry must select a fundraising level and set a fundraising goal, and fulfillment is encouraged. Participants who are running their own race are also encouraged to set a fundraising goal.

There are many ways to raise funds for Fred’s Team. Start by logging into your Dashboard and visiting your Participant Center to customize your fundraising page. Asking potential donors for support is more effective if they understand why you’re running, so personalize your page and share your connection to Fred’s Team. Learn how to use the Participant Center. 

Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X to get inspired by your fellow participants! Social media is also a great place to ask for donations and share updates with your friends and family. 

We encourage you to set your goals high and raise as much as possible! Remember that every dollar raised goes directly to cancer research at MSK. 

Please note: All funds raised must come through your online Fred’s Team fundraising page or by check or money order made payable to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Donations from a third-party fundraising site (for example, Active, Crowdrise, etc.) cannot be counted toward your fundraising requirement. 

No. If you have made a pledge to MSK, the funds raised through Fred’s Team may not be applied to fulfilling that commitment. However, it is possible to establish a pledge through Fred’s Team. Please contact us at fredsteam@mskcc.org or 800-876-7522 for additional information or to discuss your interests. 

To find out if you or your donors work for a company with a matching gift program, visit our Matching Gifts page. 

Online donations are processed automatically and are immediately applied to your fundraising total. Gifts made by check or money order are processed and applied to your fundraising total within 72 hours of being received by Fred’s Team. 

Yes. If you work for a company that might be interested in sponsoring Fred’s Team, please contact us for more information. Custom opportunities and packages are available.

It’s simple to donate to Fred’s Team in support of an individual or team. You can make a secure, online donation using a credit card or make a gift using our mail-in form. You can also search for the individual or team you wish to support. While your gift will be immediately credited to the individual or team you specify, it may take up to one hour for your online donation to be accurately reflected on the fundraising page. If after one hour you do not see the gift displayed correctly, please contact us.

All checks should be made payable to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Simply print and fill out our mail-in form, enclose it with your check, and mail to the appropriate address below, depending on the mailing service.

USPS: 

Fred’s Team

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

P.O. Box 27432

New York, NY 10087-7432

FedEx or UPS: 

JPMorgan Chase

Lockbox Processing MSKCC #27432

4 Chase Metrotech Center, 7th Floor

Brooklyn, NY 11245

Please contact us at fredsteam@mskcc.org or 800-876-7522 and one of our team members will be able to help you. 

Online gifts supporting MSK (including Fred’s Team donations) will appear as “MSK 855-718-4054” or “MSKGiving 855-718-4054” on your credit card statement. 

Through the Fred’s Team training program, you’ll get the expert guidance and support you need to run your best race. Some of the many benefits include a training chart, nutrition advice, and running tips from our USA Track & Field and USA Triathlon certified coaches. We also have mentors and assistant coaches to help you along the way. 

Your training chart, training guide, and much more can be found by logging into your Dashboard and visiting your Participant Center.  

If you are unable to participate in an official Fred’s Team event due to illness, injury, or conflict, you need to notify Fred’s Team immediately. If you received a guaranteed entry from Fred’s Team and did not cancel by the cancellation date, you will still be responsible for fulfilling the minimum fundraising requirement. Please contact us for each event’s specific cancellation policy. All donations received are nonrefundable and nontransferable. 

Double-check that you’re entering your username and password correctly. Remember, your password is case-sensitive. If you're having other issues logging in, please check out our page identifying common log-in issues. If you continue to have trouble, contact us. 

You can reset your password here. 

Customize your fundraising page by sharing your story and why you’re running. This helps boost your fundraising success by showing potential donors why your race is important!  

Please note that all customized content, photos, and videos are subject to review and approval by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. If you plan to include personal information about other people on your fundraising page — including family members or friends whose lives have been touched by cancer — please be sure to consult with them first, in case they have concerns about sharing such information publicly. 

Double-check to make sure that the photo is a JPEG file and no larger than 4MB. All uploaded images will be resized to 300 x 400 pixels.