2026 Chicago Marathon

I’m running the 2026 Chicago Marathon on October 11th to raise funds for the Live Like Roo Foundation, which supports families whose pets are facing a cancer diagnosis.

This cause means a lot to me. This past year, our sweet dog Dean was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. He was only 1.5 years old. We tried everything we could, including palliative radiation, which gave us one more month of cuddles and some amazing days where he felt like himself again. Sadly, the cancer spread faster than expected, and we had to say goodbye. Dean fought so hard, I am so proud of him and I miss him every single day.

Anyone who has loved a pet knows they are family. We would do anything for them, and the emotional and financial stress of cancer is overwhelming with tests, vet visits, medications, supplements, everything. We were fortunate to have support from friends and family that were able to help us with some of the financial cost.

Running has helped me cope with losing Dean, and when I discovered Live Like Roo, it felt like the perfect way to honor him. Raising money for families going through similar situations means so much to me, and I know Dean would be proud.

If you’re able to help me reach my goal for Live Like Roo, it would make a real difference for the families, and for the pets who need care and time.

Thank you so much for your support. You can follow my training journey on Strava or Instagram.

https://www.strava.com/athletes/200150