<div>When my mind wouldn’t stop running, my feet had to catch up.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Grief has a way of taking over everything: your thoughts, your body, your sense of direction.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I lost my dad. I lost my sister. I lost my dog.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I reached a point where everything had slipped through my hands. My people, my peace, the pieces of who I was. In the heart of that ache, I became my own anchor.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Then, almost by accident, I found running.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>At first, it was just to escape the noise in my head, but mile by mile something started to shift. Running became the one place where I felt strong. Where I felt like I could breathe again. It didn’t erase the pain, but it helped me carry it, just differently. It reminded me that I was still here, still moving, still worthy. It helped me process the pain, carry the memories, and slowly rebuild myself.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>As a first-generation American, I’ve always known what endurance looks like. I saw it in my immigrant parents. In the way they sacrificed, worked tirelessly, and kept going even when they were tired, overlooked, or unheard. They taught me resilience long before I ever knew I’d need it. They showed me how to keep pushing forward when everything inside you wants to quit.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>That’s why the Chicago Marathon means so much to me. These streets aren’t just part of a race. They’re part of my story. I ran them when I felt most alone, and somewhere along the way, I found connection, purpose, and my family. This run feels less like a finish line and more like a full-circle moment.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Just like Job in the Bible, after losing it all, he was blessed with even more. That’s the part of the story I’m stepping into. This is my double everything era.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>That’s why I’m running with and raising money for the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA). CARA is more than just a running club — it’s a nonprofit dedicated to building community, supporting mental and physical health, and making running accessible to everyone in the Chicagoland area. They train runners, organize races, and create spaces for connection and healing. Every donation, big or small, helps provide programs, resources, and support for people like me who’ve found hope and strength through running.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This journey isn’t just about crossing a finish line. It’s about honoring what I’ve lost, celebrating what I’ve survived, and creating space for others to heal too.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Thank you for reading my story. And thank you for believing in the power of choosing yourself and moving forward, one step at a time.
</div>

Ana Salazar

Alondra Raygoza

Samuel Pupo

Haaris Haroon

Elizabeth Miranda

Jessica Bruce

Maritza Del Real

Jasmin Zavala

Sheyla Santos

David Pedraza

Elizabeth Yonan

Leland Chhun

Miriam Bader

Rebecca Aman

Max Vazquez

Olivia Ortega

Marvin Noriega

Elizabeth Llewellyn

Bethanie Herman

I'm Chasing A Dream (and 26.2 Miles). Help Me Catch It!

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

currencyCode

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

writePath

Stream Notification

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

unclaimed charities

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

Users Receiving Braze KYC Validation Failed

Native 11.3.0 and above

Influencer - Prod

US fundraisers and US users

ai_title_page

anyword

openai

control

manual_entry

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

partnerId

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

I'm Chasing A Dream (and 26.2 Miles). Help Me Catch It!

Still $2,179 to go. Help us build momentum.