Celebrating 25 Years: Scott A. Mackler Memorial 5K

This November, the community came together for a milestone: the 25th and final Scott A. Mackler Memorial 5K Run/Walk. Held at Temple Beth El in Newark, Delaware, the event marked the culmination of a powerful tradition that has, since 1999, raised more than $2.5 million for the Scott A. Mackler, MD, PhD, Assistive Technology Program.

What began as a family’s response to an unimaginable diagnosis evolved into a sustaining community movement, one that has improved the lives of people living with ALS for a quarter century.

Honoring a Legacy That Continues to Inspire

The Mackler 5K was created to honor Dr. Scott Mackler, a devoted father, husband, physician-scientist, runner, and coach. Diagnosed with ALS in 1999, Dr. Mackler continued his groundbreaking addiction research at the University of Pennsylvania even as the disease progressed, using early Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology he helped pioneer.

His resilience became the foundation of an event that would change lives for decades.

As his son Noah Snyder-Mackler reflected:

“Together with Joe Sontowski, our Uncle Harvey, Temple Beth El, and the rest of the community, my brother and I turned our dad’s diagnosis into an event that could raise millions of dollars to help people with ALS get the technology they need and deserve.”

This final 5K served as both a celebration and a tribute, honoring the spirit, vision, and impact of the Mackler family and the thousands who have supported their mission over the years.

A Race with a Mission

Each year, the Mackler 5K brought together runners, walkers, strollers, wheelchairs, and entire families, all united with purpose. The event was always more than a race, it was a day of remembrance, solidarity, and action.

The funds raised over 25 years have directly supported the Scott A. Mackler, MD, PhD, Assistive Technology Program, which provides essential adaptive equipment such as:

• Computers with voice output
• Dedicated communication devices
• Hands-free access to electronics
• Remote chimes for calling help
• Environmental control units and more

These technologies are often life-changing, and, in many cases, lifesaving, especially for people whose insurance does not cover them.

Carrying the Torch of Innovation

Dr. Mackler was a pioneer in using BCI technology, featured on 60 Minutes in 2008 to demonstrate how brainwave-based communication could reshape the future for people with ALS. Today, these technologies continue to advance, and the program named in his honor ensures that people with ALS can access tools that support connection, mobility, and independence.

Thanks to the Mackler family and the generosity of the community, this program will continue to touch lives long after the final race has been run.

A Final Finish Line, But Not an End

While this year marked the final Scott A. Mackler Memorial 5K Run/Walk, its impact will continue for years to come. The legacy built over 25 years lives on through the Assistive Technology Program and the countless people who have been supported, and will continue to be supported, through its life-changing services.

To everyone who participated, volunteered, donated, sponsored, or simply showed up with love and intention: thank you. You helped transform one family’s story into a movement of hope, innovation, and community.

Together, we crossed a final finish line.
But the mission, and the legacy of Dr. Scott Mackler, continues forward.