A MESSAGE FROM Paulina's Fundraising Page
Support The Assist! I’m running the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon to help create safer sports through The Athlete Survivors’ Assist (The Assist) — a survivor-led nonprofit working to end sexual violence in athletics. The Assist provides crucial peer support for survivors, delivers education and trauma-informed training to teams and organizations, and advocates for stronger protections and accountability across all levels of sport. Your donation directly supports this mission and helps ensure every athlete can compete safely and confidently.
I find deep meaning in The Assist’s mission, because I believe every athlete deserves to experience sports as a truly safe and supportive space. As a childhood SA survivor, I struggled for years with having confidence and a sense of security. I eventually joined my high school cross country team which become a turning point for me. Running gave me strength and security in my own body, and allowed me to start healing. Sports gave me the bravery to soon start therapy and begin the long healing journey. I eventually did EMDR and learned that the PTSD never goes away, but you learn to navigate it. Running reminds me that despite it all- I am resilient and I deserve to be present in my body. 🩵
Running became a grounding and empowering outlet for me, and my wish is for all athletes to have the same opportunity to feel safe, supported, and protected in their own sport.
Thank you so much for your support — together, we’re changing the game! 💙
