Menifee Man Runs LA Marathon to Honor Late Grandmother

Cole Petrikas is running the 2026 LA Marathon to raise awareness for dementia after losing his grandmother to the disease.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Cole Petrikas, a 24-year-old from Menifee, California, is running the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon in honor of his grandmother, Lisa, who passed away from dementia in 2025. Petrikas is partnering with the McCourt Foundation, the organization that produces the LA Marathon, to raise funds and awareness for neurological diseases like dementia.

Why it matters

Dementia is a devastating disease that impacts millions of families. Petrikas' decision to run the LA Marathon in his grandmother's memory shines a light on the personal toll of dementia and the importance of supporting research and care for those affected.

The details

Petrikas was very close with his grandmother, describing her as his "best friend" since birth. After she was diagnosed with dementia, which was not treatable, Petrikas watched helplessly as the disease progressed, with his grandmother no longer recognizing her family by the end. Following her passing, Petrikas decided to turn his grief into action by training for and running the 2026 LA Marathon to raise awareness and funds for dementia research and support.

  • Petrikas' grandmother Lisa passed away in April 2025 after battling dementia.
  • The 2026 Los Angeles Marathon will take place this Sunday.

The players

Cole Petrikas

A 24-year-old resident of Menifee, California, who is running the 2026 LA Marathon in honor of his late grandmother.

Lisa

Petrikas' grandmother, who passed away in 2025 after being diagnosed with dementia.

The McCourt Foundation

The organization that produces the LA Marathon and uses the event to raise funds for neurological diseases like dementia.

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What they’re saying

“She's great. I was her first grandkid, so [we were] best friends from when I was born.”

— Cole Petrikas (NBC Los Angeles)

“Once she got diagnosed it was really, just really upsetting. There's nothing you can do. It's just — spend time over there. By the end, she didn't recognize us half the time. Her type of dementia was not treatable at all.”

— Cole Petrikas (NBC Los Angeles)

“It's remembering my grandma.”

— Cole Petrikas (NBC Los Angeles)

What’s next

Petrikas will continue training for the 2026 LA Marathon, which takes place this Sunday. The McCourt Foundation will continue to use the marathon as a platform to raise funds and awareness for neurological diseases like dementia.

The takeaway

Petrikas' decision to run the LA Marathon in honor of his late grandmother who battled dementia highlights the personal toll of this devastating disease and the importance of supporting research, care, and awareness efforts to help those impacted by it.