Running has brought so much fulfillment to my life so I would like to use it to give back. I completed three marathons including a bucket list New York marathon when my son lived there and now he's in Chicago so this marathon has become my new bucket list. This time, it means the world to me to help this city by raising money for CASA to help struggling young children have a leg up in life. I've experienced first hand the successful work of CASA in my years of teaching in Baton Rouge public schools and I know of the great work in communities all over the United States. I'm honored to contribute to this one and am very appreciative of any help I receive to accomplish this goal.

Team CASA members use the incredible experience of training for and running one of the world’s largest marathons to raise awareness and funds for the most vulnerable individuals in Chicago–children in the Cook County foster care system who have experienced abuse and/or neglect. Each runner has a goal of raising $2,300, or the cost of providing CASA services for one child for one year. Team CASA members directly impact the life of a child who will receive individual advocacy in court by a trained CASA volunteer. The advocacy that they receive has been shown to shorten the time they are in foster care and ensure they receive needed medical, educational, and social services while in care. The ultimate goal of CASA is to help each child find a safe, permanent home. The trajectory of these children’s lives are changed because they have a committed adult CASA volunteer who is with them throughout the most traumatic time in their lives. Thank you for being on our team and helping a child find a safe, permanent home.