Hello! My name is Sarah Jane and I am running the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. This will be my third Chicago marathon. I am fundraising for Red Door Animal Shelter. Here is my story. It is long, but it is heartwarming and shows just how much animals can touch our lives. On June 18, 2016 I stopped into a store to see reptiles. I had an employee tell me they had just had a bunny dropped off at their door before opening that morning and if I would love to meet him. I said “Sure! Bring him over.” I was looking at something on the wall when I felt someone was looking at me from behind. I turned around and saw this beautiful bunny. The fur color of toast, his big beautiful eyes, his gentleness. I was going through a rough patch of life at the time but I felt this calmness around me as soon as I set eyes on this beautiful creature of God. I asked “Can I hold him?” They said absolutely. For 30 minutes I held him. They said, “Would you like to take him?” I asked if they would give me a few moments. I wandered around for a moment. Then realized, I needed him. I had them hold onto him for 24 hours to get everything situated. I called my Mom from Party City saying “You will NEVER guess what I just did!” I came back the next day to pick him up. They told me his name written on the piece of paper outside of what he was dropped off in was Jax. I didn’t feel that suited him. He needed his name to be one that was well suited. We spent the next 10 years together. Facebook posts, Instagram posts, LIVE Facebook videos, sharing a banana fruit together, holidays, Easter, birthdays, heartaches, victories. His biggest role in my life was helping me to combat my depression and anxiety. In 2017 he was officially registered as my emotional support animal. Bringing it to April 10, 2025. The day that I knew would eventually come, but nothing can prepare you for the immense sadness. My sweet fur child crossed the rainbow bridge. I was met with every emotion possible. I wanted to channel my grief into an healthy outlet. I was reflecting, looking at the sky and remembered how running for charities in the past helped me bring purpose to each step, each breathe. I looked up the Chicago Marathon site to contact Red Door Animal Shelter to see if they had by chance ANY spots available. The day after Easter, I received an email there was a last minute spot available. I have registered and am going to channel my grief into dedicating my marathon run to my sweet fur child, Mr. Butters Ralph and to raising funds and awareness of the incredible work Red Door Animal Shelter does. Mission of Red Door Animal Shelter: Our mission is to promote respect for all animals through education, rescue, sheltering and adoption. Red Door Animal Shelter is a non-profit, no-kill shelter committed to helping animals in need. Our primary focus is on cats, dogs and rabbits – the three most popular pets in the United States. We also rescue the occasional stray pet duck or backyard chicken. We provide a cageless environment for the animals, giving them the closest-to-a-home experience that a shelter can provide. While our emphasis is on re-homing the animals through resourceful adoption programs, the shelter does offer permanent residence for those few animals not placed in homes. We created the premiere, extensive rabbit rescue program in the Chicago area and today we remain one of the few no-kill, multi-species shelters in the country that admits rabbits, spays/neuters them, microchips them and adopts them. Red Door is a 501(c)3 organization; our Federal tax ID number is 36-4248178. We receive no federal, state, county or city funds. We are funded almost exclusively by private donations from the public; sometimes, we receive one or two small grants a year. Please support my fundraising efforts for the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. No donation is too small. Every step I take will be for Mr. Butters Ralph. Please click on the donate button!