The 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon was both a challenge and a learning experience for me. My legs started cramping at mile 7, and things got harder from there. When the 5:45 pace runners passed me, I knew it would be tough. The winds were strong, and debris hit my face, but I refused to quit.
I crossed the finish line in 7:05:45. When I showed OAR my medal, I joked, “Did I win the Turtle Award for slowest runner?” They laughed and said, “Not yet—we’re waiting for two more runners.” It reminded me that running is not about being the fastest—it’s about finishing what you start.
After the race, I took two weeks to rest and reflect. I learned what went wrong, and I made a promise to myself: I will be back in 2025 to run again for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR).
This cause is deeply personal to me. I run for my son Nicholas and my brother Sam. Nicholas attends Gennesee Lakes, a specialized school in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and has made incredible progress in the adult program. He has a gift for memorizing maps—he can point out parks and Target stores across Lake County and Southern Wisconsin. Sammy lives at Clearbrook, a residential facility in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.
Autism is different for every person, but no matter what the challenges are, each individual deserves understanding, support, and acceptance. Running for OAR allows me to honor Nicholas, Sammy, and everyone else on the spectrum I meet along the way. Whenever I meet someone with autism, I tell them, “I will run a marathon for you.”
Please consider supporting me by donating to my fundraiser and sharing my page with your family and friends. Every contribution helps OAR fund research and provide resources for people with autism and their families.
Thank you for believing in this cause and for walking—or running—this journey with me.
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