A MESSAGE FROM Chad
It took me until I was 37 years old to come to realize that I, like 1 in 5 people, have some form of struggles with my mental health, specifically anxiety. I may have always "known," but just ignored the signs and never chose to do anything about it. This year, I finally decided to do something and sought out a therapist to help me work through my anxiety-related issues, and feel like I've made significant strides in my own mental health. This world has seen some improvement when it comes to mental health awareness; however, there still is some lingering stigma in society for those who struggle. In therapy, I realized just how much my physical activity, both running and strength training, acted as outlets for me; a way to help stimulate my mind and process what is going on in my life and put my thoughts in order. So not only was running helping my physical health, but it was also helping to prop up my mental health as well.
When I decided I wanted to run the Chicago Marathon, I knew that I wanted to find the perfect charity to raise money for, and I found just that organization in Still I Run. Their vision, of a world where every step is a stride towards well-being really spoke to me. They achieve this by supporting, inspiring, and uniting individuals of all backgrounds and experiences in their journey to better mental health through running.
I ask you to please check out this amazing organization's website, and PLEASE help my fundraising efforts by making a donation. My fundraising minimum is $2,500, however I have set a goal for $3,800. Why $3,800? Because it took me 37 years to start to deal with my own mental health, and in doing so, I am trying to make my 38th year my best one yet. I am sincerely grateful for any help you can give me in meeting my goal! Any amount you can donate helps this great organization continue its efforts, programs which I will highlight throughout my fundraising campaign.
