Team GiveForward Kicks Cancer’s Butt in the Chicago Marathon

This past Sunday I did something I never thought I could do. I ran the Chicago Marathon…and as promised to my friends and family three years ago, I ran all 26.2 miles dressed in a banana costume.

Photo courtesy of Leyla Arsan

Like thousands of other runners in the marathon, I chose to run for a charity organization, and since cancer is something that has always been important to me, I decided to run for an AMAZING one-on-one cancer support organization called Imerman Angels. (Check it out.  It’s a phenomenal organization!!!)

But I wasn’t the only GiveForward team member running to kick cancer’s butt yesterday.  Here are a few that inspired us:

Kate & Rick Deurloo raised almost $3000 to help offset the costs of chemotherapy treatments for their four-year-old daughter’s friend who is battling Leukemia.  Naomi Shapiro another one of our runners ran for the American Cancer Society in honor of her friend’s mother, Rhonda, who recently passed away.  One of our most inspiring runners is Anna Strazzante.  Just a year after having a radical cystectomy, Anna planned to run 26.2 miles yesterday to raise awareness for BCAN, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network.  Unfortunately, after completing much of her training, Anna couldn’t be at the race, so her husband ran it for her.  What a team!

Although we can’t highlight everyone on the GiveForward Team, we would like to send out virtual high fives to all of our GiveForward runners who collectively raised over $10,000 for great charities and causes.  You guys rocked it and totally inspired us! We can’t wait to see you again next year!  Until then, keep icing those knees…