Hello! My name is Emily Song, and I am a current student at Harvard. On October 13th, I will be representing Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon!  As a member of Team RMHC, I will be training, fundraising and ultimately running 26.2 miles to help keep families together.

For the past few years, I have been volunteering at RMHC through my involvement with the Harvard Undergraduate Pediatric Cancer Buddies. We are a student organization dedicated to supporting and mentoring critically ill children and their families who temporarily reside in Boston to receive treatment. We aim to ensure that patients and their families receiving out-of-town treatment feel at home even while living in a new house. As president of the organization, I organize weekly visits and activities that range from hospital trips and bedside conversations to at-home crafts and outings, allowing our volunteers to establish continuity and meet these young patients where they are. Our mission is to build meaningful, positive relationships to aid patient outcomes, ease the transition into and out of the hospital setting, and serve as an emotional and logistical support system. Harvard Buddies has also participated in the Raise Love Challenge and Meals with Love, raising nearly $1000 and cooking free meals during the holiday season. 

Connecting with patients and families in this way has revealed that healing can occur in a multitude of ways. While some patients are toddlers who enjoy crafts and music, others are teenagers who are grateful to have a listening ear. Some are eager to make brownies and sock puppets, while others prefer watching a movie or going on a walk on their hospital floor. Our volunteers also help patients' families adjust to Boston, and I have noticed how small actions such as a recommendation for a local grocery store or a guide to the public transit system alleviates their distress. These moments of connection--big or small--are what makes RMHC such a special place of healing.

I would like to run for RMHC because I am strongly interested in a career in pediatric oncology, and my passion for working with children aligns well with the missions and values of RMHC. Moreover, I always like to have a tangible fitness goal in place, whether that be training for a half-marathon, becoming a spin instructor, or trying a new exercise format. This mindset ensures that I am continually pushing the limits of my mind and body. In conjunction with my goal to pursue medicine, this mindset fuels my desire to take on demanding yet rewarding challenges. I believe that running and fundraising for RMHC will be one of the most difficult yet valuable challenges yet. However, it is one that I am more than ready and excited to take on. It costs approximately $100 to give a family one night of comfort and support. Your donation, of any amount, will not only help me achieve my goal, but will help children stay close to their families when they need it most. Thank you for your support!!