This October, I’m running my first-ever Chicago Marathon and raising money for Camp One Step by Children's Oncology Services, Inc, an organization that creates camps and community for children who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Here’s how this came to be…
Last fall, my friend and partner at NGP, Brian O'Connor, walked into my office and asked if I wanted to run. I had spent nearly 20 years cheering from the sidelines and always wondered when I'd give it a go. While the idea had crossed my mind as I entered my 40s, I assumed I had missed the window for this year. Apparently not!
Brian and I found Camp One Step, a mission that felt personal given both of our families’ experiences with cancer, and then invited others from NextGen Growth Partners to join us. SIX more people said yes. All of us will be running it for the first time.
When I first committed, I thought I was running for my dad, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2016. Then, this spring, my mom was diagnosed with kidney cancer. And this endeavor took on even more meaning. Now I’m running for both of them.
Training has been humbling. Long runs, strength training, working through a hip issue, and grateful that I got into a running program here in Chicago with the amazing folks at Bandit. This will be a real feat for me, but nothing compared with what children with cancer and their families are asked to carry.
For today, if you feel compelled, could you contribute to my portion of the $15,000 we're trying to raise for Camp One Step? And if you're in Chicago on October 11th, I'd love to see you before, during, or after the race!
Less than 100 days to go, a lot of miles ahead, and two very good reasons to keep moving.
Thanks for being here.
