The Fundraising Page of Kathryn Finney

Three generations of my family have been touched by cancer. My father died of colon cancer. My grandmother battled cancer. And I am a cancer survivor myself. At 50, I decided to do the hardest thing I've ever done: run the Chicago Marathon. I've never been a distance runner, but I've trained relentlessly. Four times a week, every single week, regardless of when I finish working or where I am, I'm up and running. This marathon is my commitment to something bigger than myself. Every dollar you donate supports women going through cancer who need community, resources, and the knowledge that they are not alone. Your donation funds Gilda's House programming specifically designed for cancer survivors seeking support. But here's the part that matters most: the women you love who were impacted by cancer, who are fighting cancer right now, or who we've lost to cancer—they will run this marathon with me. I will carry their names in my shoes, on my shirt, and in my heart across those 26.2 miles on October 11th. This is the hardest thing I've ever done. And it's for them. Why Gilda's House? Gilda's House was named after Gilda Radner, the beloved SNL comedian who died of cancer. What Gilda's House does is create safe spaces for cancer survivors to connect, heal, and find support from people who truly understand what they're going through. Your donation is 100% tax deductible and directly supports women survivors who deserve to know they're not facing this alone. How Your Donation Makes an Impact $100: Your loved one gets mentioned I'll share your loved one's name and story on my Instagram stories and LinkedIn throughout my training and on race day. They become part of my community cheering me forward. $250: Your loved one runs the marathon with me Your donation includes the above, plus I will write the name of your loved one on my race shoes. For 26.2 miles, they will be with me, supporting survivors just like they would have wanted to. $500: Your loved one is immortalized All of the above, plus your loved one's name goes on my race t-shirt alongside my father's and my grandmother's names. They will cross the finish line with me, permanently part of this moment, this cause, and this community. The Training Commitment I'm not a natural distance runner. But I've run half marathons. Last year I completed 20, 5K races. This year, I decided to push myself further than I've ever gone. I train no matter what. Early mornings. Late nights. Rain, heat, exhaustion, broken toe. Four times a week, minimum. This marathon is proof that when you commit to something larger than yourself, you find strength you didn't know you had. And that's exactly what the women supported by Gilda's House are doing every single day. Race Day: October 11th I need prayers. I need support. I need to know that the names on my shoes and shirt represent women who deserve better support systems, better community, better care. Will you join me? Donate today. Give your loved one a place in this race. And help me bring resources, hope, and community to women survivors at Gilda's House. 100% of your donation is tax deductible. Please Share Your Story When you donate, tell me about your loved one. Share their name, how cancer impacted your family, what you'd want them to know. The stories behind the names matter. They're why I'm running.