WHY I’M RUNNING 26.2 ?
Running came into my life when I needed an outlet most. What started as walks along the Chicago lakefront became a way to manage anxiety, grief, and the noise of everyday life. It gave me somewhere to go when I needed my mind to be quiet.
On September 24, 2023—what would have been my youngest brother’s 21st birthday—I ran my first half marathon with three of my best friends. My brother passed away unexpectedly in 2022 at just 19. He was creative, funny, completely himself, and one of my favorite people in the world. He also struggled with his mental health and depression.
After that first race, I described the day simply as “celebrated life.”
That half marathon eventually led me to my first Chicago Marathon in 2024. Somewhere along the way, running became more than a race—it became a way to challenge myself, move through difficult seasons, and turn something deeply personal into something purposeful.
This year, I’m returning to Chicago with Team Resilience for Erika’s Lighthouse because its mission connects so closely to why running became important to me in the first place. I often think about what access to these conversations and resources could have meant for my brother—and what they could have meant for me.
HELP ME REACH $3,000
No donation is too small—$5, $10, $26.20, or whatever feels right. And if donating isn’t possible, sharing this page matters too. One share can introduce these resources to a parent, teacher, coach, counselor, school, or young person who may never have known they existed.
I’m incredibly grateful for every person helping me carry this mission through another 26.2 miles.
For my brother. For myself. And for the young people still finding their way forward. ?
26.2 MILES • $3,000 • ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER.