My name is Maddie, and I'm running with Team CASA because this organization profoundly shaped my life. I grew up as a child in CASA, and during some of my most uncertain years, CASA advocated protected me, guided me, and made me feel seen when I believed I had no voice. Their support didn't just help me navigate childhood, it helped form the person I am today. A little over a year ago, I moved from Salt Lake City to Chicago, knowing no one. I found my footing in this city through running. Exploring new neighborhoods, discovering quiet pockets of stillness, and spending long summer mornings along the lake became my way of building a home here. Today, I am a CASA advocate for Cook County, supporting children who are walking a path I once walked. It is the greatest honor of my life to stand beside them, to listen to them, and to ensure they are safe, supported, and never unseen. To run through the streets that built me as a runner, while advocating for the organization that built me as a person, is a privilege I don't take lightly. This race is my full-circle moment, running in the city that helped me grow, for the organization that stood by me. By supporting my fundraising, you are helping ensure that more children have the consistent, compassionate advocacy they deserve. CASA changed my life, I'm running so it can change many more.