NYC Half Marathon: Daughter's battle with diabetes inspires Katonah mom to run to raise funds

KATONAH, N.Y. (WABC) -- Thousands of runners will be hitting the streets this weekend for the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon, and one of them is a mother who is running for a cause.

She's taking part to be an example for her children.

Karen Panzirer is running this year's NYC Half Marathon for a charity inspired by her daughter's battle with type-1 diabetes.

"In March of 2007, I got the call that changed my life forever," she said. "And that was when my pediatrician called telling me my 6-year-old has diabetes."

Suddenly, Panzirer worried about her daughter, Morgan, and feared she could do nothing to help her.

She turned to running to cope with the challenges her family would have to face.

"I could pour my passion for running into the passion I have for finding a better life for people living with diabetes," Panzirer said.

Now 14, Morgan has been there cheering on her mother as she raised money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation four times.

And the cold and snow hasn't stopped Panzirer.

"It's been tough," she said. "But when you have a passion, that gets me up and out the door."

The rewards of crossing the finish line are even greater knowing that her efforts are changing lives.

"In the eight years she's had diabetes, the technological advances have been incredible," Panzirer said.