The Fundraising Page of Thomas McKevitt

My (blue shirt) running journey started in 2005 when my Mom and Dad suggested I take up cross country freshman year of high school. We were not a family of runners but quickly become one after my first meet. From then on, my dad would attend every event camera in hand running (sometimes faster than the racers) from mile marker to mile maker trying to get "action shots." As he called them. He was someone who could always be picked out of the crowd, yelling "let's go T". In 2018 my dad was diagnosed with Colon Cancer. As I watched him fight through treatment I decided I would fight with him by running in the 2020 marathon; my first time running the 26.2 distance. Unfortunately, due to the health crisis this marathon would be cancelled. Something I didn't mind, because it meant less time running and more time spent with my family. As we reached more treatment milestones, we decided to celebrate a success surgery by taking a family road trip to Yellowstone Nation Park in September of 2021 (pictured above). This would be the last Trip I would take with my Dad. On December 12, 2021 my Dad passed away surrounded by his family. The following year (2022) I stopped running. That would have been the end of my running journey if it weren't for my brothers; who encouraged me to run again by entering me into the Chicago 13.1. And it was through running again that I am able to feel closer to my dad. That's why I'm running, to bring joy for those who can't run, to be strong for my family, and most importantly, because I know my Dad's still watching.