May 24, 2026 marks 15 years since my mom, Susan Brockert, was murdered by her boyfriend. My little brother was 10 years old and I was 16 at the time. While this anniversary will always carry immense grief, I want to recognize the impact her story has had in the last decade and a half since her passing — and why I’m running the Chicago Marathon in support of the One Love Foundation this October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Since losing my mom, thousands of people across Washington state, throughout the U.S., and internationally have heard her story through trainings, media coverage, awareness events, and fundraising efforts aimed at preventing and ending intimate partner violence (IPV). Her story has been shared with students across the greater Seattle area — including at her own high school shortly after her passing — as well as with communities as far as Bermuda, victim crime advocates, and companies working to better support employees impacted by IPV.

One of the most meaningful tributes to her legacy is the Youth Center at the largest domestic violence shelter in Washington state, which was opened in her honor. My mom loved children, so it feels especially fitting that her name lives on in a space dedicated to helping kids heal and feel safe.

Over the years, millions of dollars have been raised in her honor through corporate giving, fundraising events, awareness campaigns, and even races like this one. But perhaps the most meaningful impact has been the countless people who have reached out asking for help to get themselves or a loved one out of an abusive relationship. While those conversations are always bittersweet, they are exactly why sharing her story matters.

Intimate partner violence can and does happen to anyone.

-1 in 2 transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people 

-1 in 3 women

-1 in 4 men

will experience some form of IPV in their lifetime.

Awareness saves lives. Creating space for people to ask for help — without shame or stigma — saves lives. Knowing the warning signs, understanding how to create a safety plan, and helping connect someone to resources can save a life. Local shelters and community organizations providing safe housing, counseling, job support, legal advocacy, and the tools to rebuild after abuse saves lives.

That is why I have shared my mom’s story for the last 15 years and am running the Chicago Marathon with the One Love Foundation. Not only to raise awareness, but to break the stigma around intimate partner violence — who it impacts, what it looks like, and how often it goes unseen. It is also why I’m proud to support organizations like One Love, which work every day to educate people on the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships before abuse escalates.

If you are able, please consider donating to my Chicago Marathon fundraiser in honor of my mom on the 15th anniversary of her passing. Every conversation started, every dollar donated, and every act of awareness has the power to make a difference — and potentially save a life.