When I committed to running the Chicago Marathon, I knew I wanted to run for something bigger. As a co-owner of a landscaping company in North Carolina alongside my husband Dan, we spend our days helping people reconnect with the environment—restoring beaches, planting trees, and educating clients on sustainable practices. Heal the Planet is a nonprofit that believes that small acts can make a huge difference. Their mission to empower communities through environmental education and practical action aligns beautifully with our company values and our personal journey. Over the past year, Dan and I helped install over 100,000 native sea grass plugs as part of a beach restoration effort in the Outer Banks. That one project has sparked new momentum, with more and more clients asking how they can do the same to protect their shoreline and support aquatic habitats. We're also working with the City of Wilmington and The Alliance for Cape Fear Trees to replant 1,200 trees lost to hurricane damage. We've already completed the first phase—and the community response has been incredibly inspiring. This isn’t just work for us—it’s personal. When Dan and I first started dating, we spent our “Sunday church” time cleaning beaches together. Our love story started with caring for the planet, and that same care fuels every step of this journey.