Running the 2026 Chicago Marathon for LVEJO

In 2026, I’ll be running the Chicago Marathon to support LVEJO (Little Village Environmental Justice Organization) — an organization that has long been at the forefront of fighting for clean air, safe housing, and environmental justice in Chicago’s Little Village community.

This cause is deeply personal to me. Growing up in Chicago, specifically in Pilsen, I’ve seen firsthand how environmental hazards like air pollution and demolition dust do not affect all neighborhoods equally. Communities like Little Village have been systematically and racially targeted, bearing a disproportionate burden of environmental harm. As a result, LVEJO has been a trusted, community-led voice in addressing these injustices through advocacy, education, and direct action, ensuring that residents are included in decisions that directly impact their health and environment.

I’m currently a PhD student in biomedical engineering studying lung health and environmental exposures, which has only deepened my understanding of how closely our environment and our health are connected. Running this marathon is more than a physical challenge for me — it’s a way to give back, stand with my community, and support efforts that are creating real, lasting change.

All funds raised will go directly to LVEJO’s work in Little Village, supporting community organizing, education, and advocacy for healthier, safer neighborhoods — because clean air should not be a privilege reserved for a few, but a basic right everyone deserves.

Thank you so much for supporting this run. Whether you donate, share this page, or cheer from the sidelines, it truly means a lot.

This run is for the air we breathe, for everyone living with the consequences of environmental harm, and for those whose stories we will never get to hear — honoring them by continuing the fight for those still living.