26-Year-Old Chef Dies Running Nashville Half-Marathon: ‘Treasured Son, Brother, Boyfriend, and Friend’

"He was a bright light of inspiration and positivity to everyone that was blessed to cross paths with him," the late chef's family shared in a statement

Chef Joey Fecci died just a few miles before completing a Nashville half-marathon on Saturday, April 27. He was 26.

Fecci died after he received urgent medical attention while running the St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Series Nashville Marathon, reports News Channel 5, WSMV and the Tennessean.

Fecci was found unresponsive at the Shelby Park portion of the race. The Rock 'n' Roll Running Series said in a statement to the Tennessean on Sunday that Fecci received urgent medical attention from an on-site medical team. He was then rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died.

“We appreciate the medical personnel who worked quickly to support the participant,” the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series organization's statement read, per the Tennessean. “We share our greatest sympathies with the family and friends of the race participant, and we will continue to offer them our support as they go through this very difficult time. Out of respect for the participant and their family we will have no further comment.”

Related: 'Masterchef' Contestant Matt Campbell, 29, Dies After Collapsing While Running London Marathon

On Monday, his family released a statement confirming his death. “It is with unbearable grief and immense sorrow that we share our dear and beloved Joey transitioned to the other side on Saturday April 27th," his family said, per WSMV.

The statement continued, “He was a bright light of inspiration and positivity to everyone that was blessed to cross paths with him. He was a treasured son, brother, boyfriend, and friend to so many. He leaves behind a broken family that loves him so very much.”

Nashville police said Fecci died due to natural causes and his death is not under investigation, reports WSMV.

Related: Runner Steve Shanks Dies 'Out of the Blue' Hours After Completing London Marathon

Fecci’s culinary career began in his hometown of Somers, New York. At 15 years old, he began his career serving as a busboy, pizza chef and garde manger at the Lucia Restaurant, per the Tennessean.

He then attended The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and interned at Charlie Palmer’s Michelin-starred Aureole in Las Vegas. He also worked at Michelin-starred Spiaggia in Chicago alongside Tony Mantuano and served as chef de partie at Per Se in New York City.

In 2020, he reunited with Mantuano and joined the staff at the Yolan in The Joseph hotel in Nashville. Within two years, he was promoted from head sous chef to chef de cuisine in 2022. Fecci announced his departure from the Yolan in February on Instagram.

During his tenure at Yolan, he led the research and development of events and menus and worked with renowned chefs, including Top Chef winner Joe Flamm.

Flamm shared a tribute on Instagram following Fecci’s passing, writing, “I keep telling myself not to just keep asking why, but it’s hard. because i’m fucking angry and i’m heartbroken but i am grateful. i’m grateful i hired a 19 yo kid from new york sight unseen bc he sent me an email. i’m grateful he spent two years sharing a kitchen with me."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

A GoFundMe has been created to honor Fecci’s memory and provide scholarship money to an aspiring culinary student.

A representative for the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for more information on Monday.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.