For Jack and Joe Ricciuti, brotherhood has always been a constant, shaped first by childhood, and later, by loss, responsibility, and a shared sense of purpose.

Growing up alongside their middle brother Pete, their dynamic was defined by age gaps and shared spaces more than shared milestones. Joe, the oldest, and Jack, the youngest, didn’t overlap in school the way many siblings do. Instead, their relationship was built at home—in the in-between moments. Family meals. Watching TV. Playing video games. Catching frogs in the creek. Backyard football. Tagging along through the neighborhood. Jack, the youngest, was always game to be included, following his older brothers wherever they went.

It wasn’t until years later, when both were living in New York City, that their relationship began to take on a new shape. Proximity created consistency, and time together became more intentional. What started with regular workouts and time spent catching up evolved into something more grounded and reciprocal.

In 2019, the Ricciuti brothers lost their mom Lori to breast cancer. She was 59.

Her loss changed the structure of their family in an instant. As the center of their home, her absence was deeply felt, but it also prompted each of them to step forward in new ways. Their bond as brothers strengthened as they learned to navigate that loss together.

In the years that followed, Joe was introduced to The Pink Agenda through a personal connection and committed to running the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon in support of breast cancer research. The experience left a lasting impression. It offered not only a way for him to take action, but also a sense of direction.

After that first experience, Joe made a decision: he would run again, but only if his brothers joined him.

They did.

In 2023, Joe, Jack, and their brother Pete ran the NYC Marathon as part of Team TPA.

What began as an individual response to grief became a shared commitment. Training, fundraising, and ultimately crossing the finish line together deepened their connection, both to each other and to a broader community of individuals who understood the impact of the disease in their own lives.

Today, Jack and Joe are not just participants—they are TPA Board Members and leaders within the Athletics Committee and NYC Marathon team. Each fall, they lead weekly long runs in Central Park, helping to build the culture and camaraderie that define the Team TPA experience. Training for a marathon can be isolating. By creating a space where people show up together each week, they’ve helped make it more collective. Runners are not only preparing physically, but also forming relationships rooted in shared motivation.

That sense of community is especially meaningful within TPA. Many participants come in with a personal connection to breast cancer, whether direct or indirect. Having a space where those experiences are understood without explanation has become a defining part of the team environment.

Before joining TPA, that kind of connection was harder to find. Through the marathon program and the broader TPA community, that changed.

Their involvement has continued to grow over time. What began with a single race expanded into leadership roles within the organization, first through the Leadership Council and now at the Board level. Experiences like attending the Annual NYC Gala and connecting with survivors helped solidify their commitment to the mission.

At its core, that commitment is rooted in their mother Lori’s legacy.

They are intentional in how they carry that forward. Not by defining her through the disease, but by contributing to a future where fewer families experience the same loss.

Running has become part of how they process that responsibility. It offers both a physical outlet and a mental reset, a way to work through challenges and stay grounded. It is also, at times, a point of connection—to each other, and to the person they lost.

Their perspective on the future of breast cancer research is shaped by both experience and optimism. Progress is being made, and the path forward is tangible. The barrier is not possibility, but continued support.

That belief is what keeps them engaged.

On National Siblings Day, their focus is simple. Loss has sharpened their appreciation for what remains. The three brothers, along with their father, have become even more intentional about how they show up for one another—celebrating milestones, supporting each other through challenges, and staying closely connected.

Together, they have found a way to turn grief into action—and to carry it forward.

And through The Pink Agenda, that action continues to create impact—within their own lives, and far beyond.