The Fundraising Page of Daniela Barrios

The Chicago Marathon will be my very first marathon of my running career. I started running in 2018 in college when, having gone from playing sports when I was younger to not playing them in college, I needed a new way to exercise. I signed up for my first half marathon in the spring of 2019 and just started running! Since then, I have run many other races and distances, but I haven't touched the marathon yet. I am choosing to run my first marathon in honor of my grandparents, two of whom have suffered from lung cancer. My Abuelo was diagnosed with lung cancer in October of 2018. I still remember every detail of where I was when my dad called me to tell the news. This is one of those moments you never forget. The following August of 2019, my dad and I visited my family in El Salvador. My Abuelo wanted to have a "Last Serenade" as he called it for my Abuela. One of the most beautiful moments of my life, and little did I know, this would be the last time I would hug both of them. In June of 2020, my Abuelo sadly passed away. Because this was during the height of Covid, we were unable to travel for the funeral. I saw how this affected my entire family, especially my dad. I wanted to be a source of support for my dad, and I didn't know how. This past April of 2023, my grandmother was also diagnosed with lung cancer after a series of recurring falls since last September of 2022. I have seen the stress placed upon my mother, and again, I have struggled with knowing how to support her. My grandmother lives in Colorado near my parents, and while I love spending time with her, sometimes I also struggle with my emotions in seeing her change with her age and her illness. Running with Gilda's Club of Chicago, a group that works to support the community affected by cancer, is a way for me to contribute to cancer support services for those who also may not know what they need or how to provide support to others. I hope to honor not only my Abuelo and my Grandma, but my mom and my dad as well. I also am running in memory of my Grandpa, who passed away from Parkinson's in October of 2017, and my Abuela, who passed away from declining health in September of 2021. I hope they would be proud of the person I am today. Finally, (if you made it here, thank you!) to end on a positive note, I am starting medical school this fall! As a future healthcare professional, I am equally invested in caring and supporting for patients' families and friends. Many times, we forget that it's not just the patient who is affected by an illness, but their entire community. Thank you for supporting me on this journey and on my journey to completing all six of the World Major Marathons!