I am beyond excited to run the 2025 Chicago Marathon! As a member of the RUN FOR AUTISM team, through the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), I have the incredible opportunity to combine two of my greatest passions—running and supporting autistic individuals.

As a speech-language pathologist, I work every day to support my autistic students’ educational communication success, as well as their long-term development in social, employment, communication, and daily living skills. OAR is an amazing organization led by families of autistic children and adults. They fund applied research studies that directly impact the daily lives of neurodivergent individuals and address the challenges faced by autistic people, their families, teachers, and caregivers. Additionally, OAR provides evidence-based resources to first responders, families, and educators, and they also help fund postsecondary education for autistic learners.

I CANNOT WAIT to run 26.2 miles (my first marathon!) in support of my students and so many other autistic individuals. But I need your help! Please consider supporting OAR by contributing to my fundraiser and sharing this page with your family and friends. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH YOUR CONTRIBUTION MEANS TO ME!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Here are some of the ways that OAR uses the funds raised by the RUN FOR AUTISM team:

$10 provides a Curriculum in a Box professional development set to general education teachers.
$25 provides 15 copies of A Guide to Safety to families and first responders.
$100 provides the Kit for Kids peer education resource to an entire elementary or middle school.
$150 provides 100 copies of a Life Journey through Autism guidebook sent to a community support group or military installation.
$1,000 provides a research grant for a graduate student studying autism.
$3,000 provides a scholarship for a student with autism to attend college.
$50,000 fully underwrites an applied research pilot study.