In 2018, I started running after a series of tough events. It all began in February when I tried to end my life. I felt like I’d hit a wall and had nothing to be proud of, feeling there was no other solution. After getting out of the hospital, my girlfriend of three years broke up with me, and I lost one of the only men I considered a father figure - my Great Uncle. Growing up with a single mom, this loss hit me hard. About two months later, I was diagnosed with an illness that required surgeries for the rest of the year, and came close to it evolving into cancer. While recovering from these surgeries, my primary doctor told me I needed to start exercising and eating better or I’d die of a heart attack or stroke because my blood pressure was above Stage 2 Hypertension. So, I started running. I hadn’t run before, but it just felt right. I was also self-conscious about lifting weights in front of others, so I felt this was the best solution for my weight loss goals. Initially, my running was atrocious. My cardiovascular endurance was next to zero, and I could barely run more than a minute or so before being winded, so I made a deal with myself. My goal was to run on the treadmill for 20 minutes without stopping. Once I accomplished this, I began to build up my endurance and soon ran my first 5K. From there, I kept pushing myself to achieve more. I signed up for my first race in 2019 for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and that’s when I really was bitten by the running bug. I qualified for the 2020 New York City Marathon, but it was delayed to 2021. That’s when I heard about the World Marathon Majors, and made it a goal to finish all of them. I decided to run Berlin and Chicago in 2022, London in 2023, and Tokyo and Boston in 2024. I ran all but two of these marathons with charities, and I raised over $14,000 in total. I ran Tokyo and Boston in 2024 for my grandma, who I lost in 2023 and was my biggest running supporter, always telling me to “Run Forrest Run." Running has not only helped me with my endurance and overall physical health. It has given me a newfound confidence and a belief that when I feel like I’ve hit a wall or a problem I can’t solve, I know I have the ability to not just get through it, but grow as an individual and become stronger in a multitude of ways. I want others to know they have this capability, as well. Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association's motto is: "Let NO ONE Sit on the SIDELINES". I chose to join Team GLASA for the 2025 Berlin Marathon. GLASA provides year-round adaptive sports and wellness programs, including providing all sports equipment needed to participate. Team GLASA charity runners are dedicated to train, run 26.2 miles, and raise money to support youth, adults, and veterans with a physical or visual disability. Please consider donating to my cause.