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 raise money for families to stay with their hospitalized children. 

January 2023 I saw first hand the impact a sick child had on a family. My roommate, who was 23 at the time, was rushed to the ER for heart surgery which led to the finding, and ultimate diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Although she was 23, her parents still saw her as their little girl who was going through one of the hardest times in her life. They instantly came to be with her for her seven night hospital stay. It is an absolute blessing to say that now my roommate is cancer free and kicking my ass running faster than me - but there was a lot of uncertainty for a while. Fortunately, our house was nearby and her family was in the financial position to have the ability to stay in a hotel. 

Unfortunately not everyone has the ability to stay in a hotel, especially when their child’s stay is much longer than seven days. That’s where Ronald McDonald House Charities comes in.

RMHC helps families cope better and focus on the needs of their sick child, allowing them the ability to spend more time with their child, to interact with their doctors, and to make important decisions about their child’s care. 

After learning about this opportunity to support RMCH by running the Chicago marathon, I looked further into the charity. I am pleased to say I was very happy with what I found out, and believe your donation will truly go to a family in need. 

It costs approximately $100 to give a family one night of comfort and support. Think about how nice a hug from your mom or a corny joke from your dad is after a long day, those are the little things your donations could help bring to these kids. Whatever you give $1 or $100, will not only help me achieve my goal, but will help children stay close to their families when they need it most.

Here are some links to learn more

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana

Staying With Us - Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & NW Indiana

Financial Reports - Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & NW Indiana

Rating for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana