I had been looking for a way to honor my daughter, Elah. Something meaningful, something difficult, and something that would require real commitment.

Completing an Ironman had been on my bucket list for years, long before I ever imagined the reason I would eventually have for doing one.

When I decided to finally take that goal on, I knew exactly who I wanted to do it for.

That is where #EveryMileForElah came from.

The idea is simple: every mile I train and every mile I race is done in her honor.

I have already registered for IRONMAN Lake Placid on July 25, 2027. The date is on the calendar, the commitment has been made, and the work has started.

An Ironman is 140.6 miles, split over a 2.4-mile swim, 112 miles on the bike, followed by a full 26.2-mile marathon. Getting to that starting line will take months of training, early mornings, long weekends, and plenty of days when it would be easier to stop.

Losing a child changes your life in ways that are difficult to explain. I have never been someone who is overly emotional or particularly public about what I am feeling. But I also never want Elah to become someone we only speak about quietly or only remember in the past. This is one way I can continue carrying her name forward.

Every swim. Every ride. Every run. Every mile for Elah.

I have already started documenting this journey from the beginning of training, and will continue to document it all the way through the finish line at Lake Placid and sharing it across my social media.

I want to show all of it; the progress and setbacks, good days and bad days, early mornings, long training sessions, races along the way, and eventually the 140.6-mile day that all of this is building toward.

If you support this journey, you’ll be able to follow it every step of the way.

I created this GoFundMe to help offset some of the costs that come with preparing for and competing in an Ironman, including training, equipment, travel, and race-related expenses. I’ve already committed to the race and to doing the work it takes to get there. Any contribution helps make that journey a little easier, but support doesn’t have to mean donating.

Share the page. Follow the journey. Send some encouragement when the training gets hard. Or simply remember Elah’s name and what #EveryMileForElah stands for.

That means more to me than I can really put into words.

On July 25, 2027, I hope to make my way through 140.6 miles and hear the words I’ve been working toward:

“Jonathan Shepherd, you are an IRONMAN.”

I’ll be the one crossing the finish line, but I’ll know exactly who I did it for.

As part of this journey, I will personally gift 20% of all funds raised through this campaign to Elah’s Echo, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit created in Elah’s memory, where I currently serve as a director.

Elah’s Echo exists to support families affected by stillbirth and pregnancy loss while helping expand education, awareness, and support surrounding these experiences.

This contribution will be made by me from the funds I receive through this fundraiser, so part of #EveryMileForElah will continue beyond race day and directly support the work being done in her name.