Every person should get the opportunity to experience the joy sports bring. When I hit the pavement (or trail) for a race I can't stop smiling. It's difficult to put into words the feelings of camraderie you experience running for hours upon hours surrounded by people who love it just as much as you. Maybe it's so hard to describe because it's hundreds of different feelings: glee at the fans cheering along the route, motivation from the small squad you've been pacing with for the last two miles, absolute joy when the new friend you started chatting with asks "hey, are you on Strava?", etc. Race day always makes me feel connected to others in such a special way - that's what being included in a team will do. 

I've seen athletics bring race day kinds of smiles to many faces. In high school I had the opportunity to play basketball with young adults with special needs every Friday after school at Our Place of New Trier. We played for hours catching up on our weeks, encouraging each other on the court, and celebrating everyone's successes. Basketball created a space where we built our community filled with loads of laughs and support. Throughout college I was fortunate to experience this again while volunteering with Special Olympics in New York, an organization close to my heart. 

Every single person should have the opportunity to feel the acceptance and joy of inclusion in sports. That's why I am raising money for the Special Olympics in my hometown of Chicago as I train for the 2023 marathon!

Special Olympics (and myself) believe connecting people through sports and physical activity are the beginning steps in spreading our mission of inclusion, acceptance, and joy. Please help me in support of the #inclusionrevolution by donating to #TeamSpecialOChicago!