Hi, my name is Basia, and I’m honored to be running the 2026 Chicago Marathon in memory of Molly Hahn and Rebecca Pflueger. Their strength, courage, and impact continue to inspire so many people, and I’m grateful for the chance to help carry their legacy forward.

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In October 2026, I’ll be running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with one purpose in mind: to honour the legacies of Molly Hahn and Rebecca Pflueger by raising $4,100 for the Molly Hahn & Rebecca Pflueger Memorial Fund at the University of Notre Dame.

This fund was born out of profound loss, shared hope, and a desire to transform grief into something that creates real, lasting impact.

Dr. Noah Hahn (ND ’94) lost his wife Molly to glioblastoma on November 5, 2020.

Rex Pflueger (ND ’19), captain of Notre Dame men’s basketball, lost his mother Rebecca to the same aggressive cancer on September 14, 2019.

Though their losses happened at different times, their stories became connected in 2020 through the Notre Dame community. What began as one family reaching out for support became a meaningful partnership — built on honoring two remarkable women and advancing the fight against brain cancer.

Together, Noah and Rex created the Hahn-Pflueger Brain Cancer Scholar Program, supported by the Memorial Fund. Their mission is rooted in the belief that:

“The most powerful thing in this world is hope.” — Rex Pflueger

“Through research, we’re able to understand cancer more clearly and advance treatments.” — Dr. Hahn

⭐ What the Memorial Fund Supports

Through the Hahn-Pflueger Brain Cancer Scholar Program, the fund provides life-changing opportunities for Notre Dame students pursuing careers in medicine. It places students in world-class brain cancer research internships at:

• Johns Hopkins University

• University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)

• Indiana University & IU Health

• The Harper Cancer Research Institute at Notre Dame

These students work alongside leading scientists, contribute to active research projects, and help push forward the hope of fighting brain cancer — carrying Molly’s and Rebecca’s legacies with them.

The fund has already:

✓ Become fully endowed in just four months

✓ Supported four cohorts of Notre Dame research scholars

✓ Strengthened the partnership between Notre Dame and Harper

✓ Built a foundation for future labs, internships, and expanded opportunities

And this is only the beginning.

⭐ Why I’m Running

I’ve watched this fund grow with so much purpose, heart, and impact. The way Molly and Rebecca are honored — not only through memory, but through meaningful research opportunities — inspired me deeply.

Running the 2026 Chicago Marathon is my way of supporting that mission.

Every mile, every training run, and every early morning will be dedicated to the courage, hope, and love that built this fund.

⭐ How Your Donation Helps

Your support directly strengthens:

• Research internships for Notre Dame students

• Partnerships with top cancer centers

• Future scholars working toward breakthroughs

• The continued growth of a program rooted in compassion and legacy

This fundraiser is coordinated with Dr. Noah Hahn and Rex Pflueger, who have both been incredibly supportive of this campaign.

⭐ Honoring Molly & Rebecca

Molly Hahn and Rebecca Pflueger were women who loved deeply, inspired everyone around them, and fought bravely. Their stories continue to live on through every student researcher, every internship, and every step toward understanding brain cancer more fully.

Your gift continues their legacy in the most meaningful way: by fueling hope, education, and the future of brain cancer research.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Thank you for helping carry Molly’s and Rebecca’s light forward. #HopeInAction