My brother Jack was born with Cerebral Palsy. His condition limited his ability to walk, talk, and live anything close to a normal life. He endured countless surgeries, hospital stays, illnesses, and many more battles throughout his life. Yet, despite all of it, Jack portrayed a radiant smile that could light up any room. His ability to present positivity through an unimaginable life of pain has instilled gratitude into my being, and I am forever grateful to have been born his sister.

In March of 2023, Jack passed away from a respiratory illness. Losing my brother has left me feeling hopeless in many ways. However, there is one area that I have managed to grow in since his passing, and that is gratitude. I am so blessed to have grown up in the presence of such an inspiring, selfless, courageous individual. And even more so, I get to call that person my brother. 

Since losing Jack, I have developed a love for running. Our dad ran his first marathon in college, so I knew it was a goal I wanted to achieve before graduating. When I heard about Team Special Children's Charities, I knew immediately that I wanted to dedicate my first marathon to Jack. I am blessed to have two healthy legs that allow me to run, a privilege my brother never had. There are thousands of children out there with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I may not be in the presence of them as much as I was growing up, but you are never too far from a cause to make a difference. I cannot wait to dedicate my first marathon to my brother and run for special children who deserve love and support.

Please consider donating to my fundraising page to help me reach my goal of $2,100! 

Again, thank you for supporting the thousands of participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Chicago!