It was the summer going into my freshman year of high school. Like every other day of the summer, I was sleeping through the morning and into the day. However on this day, I was forced awake by my mom and brother, who told me how they had just been walking outside and saw a bunch of my friends running. So, they gave me a choice: run cross country or quit ice hockey. I choose the former and suffered through it. At first, I dreaded running more than three miles, and that was before the coaches began to add in morning runs! Over time though, as I kept running with my fellow teammates, that began to change. I grew to love running, due in no small part to Coach Mark. He taught me that running was more than just a competition, rather it was forming a mentality of persistence that applies to all aspects of my life. So, I kept running, pushing myself to go further both mentally and physically. Whether it was teaching in South Africa, backpacking through China, running a half marathon in Miami in the heat or in my academic pursuits, I challenged myself to learn more and work harder, and this would not have been the case without running and the tutelage of those who ran with me. With that in mind, on the 8th of October, I will be running again.  This time it is in the Chicago Marathon and for a very good cause, the charity group Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA, link found below). GLASA is an organization who's central mission is to make sports available to disabled children of all ages, striving to “Let No One Sit on the Sideline.” Knowing how much athletics have changed my life, it would mean the world to me if you would join me in supporting the efforts of GLASA in providing the same opportunities that were afforded to me.

Any amount would be immensely appreciated!
 
If you have any further questions about GLASA, myself or where is the best spot to watch me run in Chicago, please do not hesitate to let me know!
 
Hakan