IMPORTANT: Jessica is not aware of this. For those of us that know her, let's not reveal it to her. I hope to surprise her on race weekend.

I am partnering with Team Chicago Run and the 2023 Chicago Marathon to raise funds to help provide the youth of Chicago with equitable access to physical activity. Chicago Run is a non-profit organization with the aim of empowering Chicago’s youth by building resilience to stress and trauma as well as developing social and emotional skills. They seek out under-resourced communities with limited access to physical activity and play, partnering with schools to create programs that will increase the well-being of students as well as their concentration in the classroom.

I am seeking entry to the Chicago Marathon through raising funds for charity. I will be helping my wife to train for the 2023 Marathon over the course of this year. We will create a plan and workout together. I’ll be her personal water bottle holder, and a source of encouragement as we tough through the longer runs. I have personally completed two marathons previously, but this will be my wife’s first. She wanted me to be with her during the race as well, but I did not receive an entry through the lottery.

My plan is now to secretly raise money for a guaranteed entry into the Chicago Marathon. Then, before the race, I will surprise her by letting her know that I will continue to support her and run by her side for each of the 26.2 miles on race day.

I chose to partner with Chicago Run, because I have personally found running to be a strong source of positivity and self-confidence in my own life. During some of the most stressful periods of my life, running served as an activity and outlet where I could sort through my thoughts and priorities. Also, after finishing each run, it gave me a simple challenge that I could feel good about having accomplished.

Here is how Chicago Run describes where your support will go:

Your support enables us to empower thousands of young people from Pre-K through high school with equitable access to inclusive running and physical activity programs. Through the power of sport, we build resilience to stress and trauma and develop critical social and emotional skills. We partner with over 50 sites primarily located in under-resourced communities with limited access to physical activity and play.

And here is where you can find more information on Chicago Run: http://www.chicagorun.org/what-we-do

So in summary, I need your help to help my wife in achieving her Marathon-running dreams. And Chicago Run needs all of our help to be a source of positivity and personal empowerment in the lives of the Youth of Chicago. Running has been a source of great joy in my own life. Please consider helping spread positivity through running by supporting Team Chicago Run on my Chicago Marathon fundraising page (this page). I will be forever thankful for your help in assisting Jessica’s marathon-running goals and you will also be helping youths impacted by Chicago Run’s programs to build social skills, self-confidence, and mental well-being that they otherwise would not have access to. Please consider making a donation today!