I am thrilled to announce that I have been selected as a charity runner for the Tokyo Marathon 2026. I will be raising money for Ronald McDonald House Charities Japan! RMHC operates under a mission and vision focused on supporting families of seriously ill children. This includes providing a "home away from home" near hospitals, removing barriers to healthcare, and fostering a supportive environment. The overarching goal is to keep families together during challenging times.

I love running! When my feet hit the pavement, I leave my worries behind. Running has helped me through some very difficult times, like losing both of my parents, my parents-in-law and my best friend, all in the span of about 10 years. Although I log most of my miles on solo runs, I also belong to a wonderful running community. The running community as a whole, is incredibly supportive. Running a marathon was meant to be something I'd check off my bucket list, but I fell in love with race day energy. My first marathon was NYC, which at the time, was the largest marathon in the world, with over 50,000 runners. I knew when I crossed that finish line, it wouldn't be my last. The support, love, and encouragement from the other athletes as well as the spectators reminded me that there is so much kindness in the world. I was hooked!

I have pledged to raise 308,000 Japanese Yen (roughly $2900 Canadian) and every dollar raised will be donated directly to Ronald McDonald House.

I have set a goal to run the World Marathon Majors and Tokyo Marathon is one of them. I have already completed New York City, Chicago, Berlin, and London. In August this year, I will be running the Sydney Marathon, which is the latest race to become a world major.

If you know me, you know that in addition to running, I love to travel. I also love kindness, community, healthcare, and caring for others. This next adventure allows me to combine all of these things and to bring more meaning to my miles.

Thank you for all the love and support on my world major journey. I truly could not have done it without the help from my family and the people around me.