Welcome to my Team Chicago Run Marathon Fundraising page! 

Marathon training is in full swing and I couldn't be more excited! After registering for the Chicago Marathon in 2020 and it getting canceled (thanks COVID), then moving to Chicago in 2021 and getting married in 2022, 2023 is finally the year! I’m fundraising for Team Chicago Run, a local nonprofit that creates running and physical education opportunities for kids in under-resourced areas around Chicago. Through the power of sport, they build resilience to stress and trauma and develop social and emotional skills. I know from first hand experience how powerful of a tool running and sports can be for mental and physical well being. Along with many other sports, running has been something I’ve called upon throughout my whole life to help get me through times of stress. It’s a privilege being able to be a part of creating opportunities for kids to learn about how powerful running can be and hopefully they will be able to use it as a tool for their whole lives as well. 

If you’re wondering- this is not my first marathon! Although, it will be the first marathon I’m officially training for. In May 2015, I was signed up to run a half marathon on the Great Wall of China. The day before the race, a random old Irish man tried to talk me into doing the full marathon and I thought his logic was sound: I was already in Beijing and racing anyway, this was probably going to be a once in a lifetime event so why not go all out. I thought about it for approximately zero seconds and switched to the full. Even after the 5,000+ stairs in the race that had people literally crawling up on their hands in the last 6 miles, it was one of the best experiences of life! I have nothing but great memories of it and am decidedly ready to feel the pain again! My second marathon is going to be slightly different though… the Chicago Marathon is much flatter and certainly closer to home, and I can’t wait to see what this training cycle and race have in store for me.

I appreciate any contribution you’re able to make toward my fundraising goal. As every step in the race gets me closer to the finish line, every dollar helps get me nearer to my goal. 

Feel free to check out this video showing the impact that Chicago Run has on the communities they serve: About Team Chicago Run