"Erika's Lighthouse is determined to make sure no young person feels alone in their depression. We are dedicated to creating a community of empathy and education. We create middle school and high school teen depression awareness programs so educators and teens can create safe spaces to learn about depression, letting students know they are never alone, and there is somewhere to turn."

I will be running the 2025 Chicago Marathon as a part of Team Resilience. Depression impacts so many people and it is important that we support and protect our youth who also battle depression. Learning the tools they need to improve their mental health at an early stage can help them for a lifetime.

This cause is close to my heart as I fought my first depressive episode in junior high schol after losing a close relative to suicide and my mother passing away shortly thereafter. The pain was difficult to articulate at the time or ask for any help. Resources like the ones Erika's Lighthouse provide would have been a godsend.

Mental health is important for everyone. I think it is imperative that we make sure we have what we need to support our youth during any difficult times. Children spend so much of their time at school. Help me help Ericka's Lighthouse stand "as a beacon of hope for adolescent depression".

Please, if you can, donate today!