Two goals that I have always had for myself are proving that I am capable of taking on a challenge powerful in nature, and helping to make a positive impact in the world. Helping others has always been a passion of mine. I can’t bear to see people suffer when I have been blessed with so much, and am always looking for ways to share my blessings and make a difference. In regards to my goal of taking on a great challenge, the thought of people running marathons for fun was something I just couldn’t fathom. It seemed like a ridiculous thing to put yourself through. I mean can running for over 4 hours really be fun? Well, I will find out the answer to that question this fall as I run my first marathon – the Chicago Marathon. I realized that by taking on this challenge I could achieve both of my goals. I will run 26.2 miles- something I never imagined myself doing before, and at the same time I will be helping to fight breast cancer and make a difference in the lives of those affected by it. It is a perfect opportunity to achieve both of these goals and I am thrilled to be part of an event that will make a profound impact on my life, as well as on the lives of fellow runners, and those affected by this terrible disease. I am looking forward to growing as a runner and as a person over these next 5 months.

I am not completely new to running- I ran frequently throughout college but never thought about racing until one of my close friends, Lexi, inspired me, after completing 7 marathons of her own. She told me how exciting race day is and how fulfilling it is to cross the finish line. Then my friend Whitney and I discovered we were both interested in running the marathon. The more we thought about it, the less reasons there were not to run it. And we were both adamant about running for a cause. I decided if I was serious about the marathon, I had to run some smaller races to see what it was like. In March I ran the Shamrock Shuffle 8k with Lexi. It was my first race, and I absolutely loved it! It was a challenge since it was the longest distance I had run up to that point, but the energy and the encouragement I found in sharing the race with so many other runners of all capacities was amazing. After that I ran the Race to Wrigley, with my younger sister Caitlin. Again, I fell in love with the “race day” feeling, and Caitlin caught the racing bug as well. She decided to join me in running the marathon and became a part of the Pink Streak Team also. That gives me a triad of reasons to look forward to Oct 12- I will prove to myself that I can run a marathon, help to raise money and awareness for breast cancer, and share in a life changing experience with my sister and friends. It will be a long road to the start line but it will definitely be worth it. I am honored to take part in an event that brings thousands together for one common goal - to run, to finish, and to make a difference. Please join me in the fight against breast cancer and donate to the Pink Streak Team. Although you may not be running alongside me, your donations and encouragement will be truly appreciated by me as well as the thousands affected by breast cancer each day.

Thank you, Kelly