Chicago was alive on October 12 for the 2025 Bank of America Marathon, with over 55,000 runners hitting the streets. Amid all the speed and cheers, one duo was impossible to miss: Dr Jennifer Reichek and her son, Max Reichek, running their third Chicago Marathon together. “Running for something bigger than myself gives me the push I need,” Jennifer said, and you could feel that in every step she took. This was not just a question of finishing for Max, a long-time marathoner; it was a collective dedication to a cause that was close to their hearts and that they believed was physically and mentally impossible. In this year, Max was motivated in a very personal way. He had volunteered during the Camp One Step run by Children’s Oncology Services, where he saw the changing effect of the camp on children with cancer. He shared, “Each day felt like a world in its own, filled with songs, laughter, and the most amazing campers I could ask for.” Supporting him was his mother, Dr. Jennifer Reichek, a hematologist-oncologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. As head of the medical staff at Camp One Step, Dr. Reichek plays a pivotal role in ensuring the well-being of the campers. Whatever money they earn from the race goes directly to the camp.

Reflecting on her work,

she told NBA Chicago, “I have been a medical support staff here since 2009. The ability to see the kids that I take care of in Chicago, here at camp, is one of the most fulfilling experiences I have in life. My work day to day is hard, and sometimes it’s really sad. Coming to camp for me is really a soul replenisher.” For Max, following his mother’s path was natural. “I tell people constantly that my mom is my hero,” he said. “She really is someone that I look up to, not only in her work ethic, but also in her dedication to kindness and empathy. To be here and to be a small part of that, to be able to say, ‘That’s my mom,’ is incredible.”

Jennifer added,

“For him, the accomplishment of completing a marathon while also doing something for other people is a lesson that I’ve tried to teach him his whole life. And in running the marathon for Team One Step and for camp, it’s really concrete. The first time we crossed the finish line of the Chicago Marathon together, I was a mess, crying.”

She continued, “

When you lose faith in humanity and you run a marathon, it rekindles your faith because there are millions of people out there cheering for me…this, you know, five foot-tall, white haired lady that they don’t know. But it makes me feel like a rock star. I get to see a city that I have come to love so much on its best day.” The mother-son couple is fundraising on Qgiv, a site that aids in charity events and contributions. So far, Max has contributed $1,865, which is more than his 1,500 goal. The ones who took inspiration from their story can still donate to help Camp One Step on the fundraising page of Max. Each donation will bring happiness and hope to a child who has to fight for life. And the truth is, this marathon in Chicago is full of stars. A boy with Down syndrome is running too. Can you believe that?

Inspiring lives pushed forward by the Chicago Marathon

One marathoner, a 20-year-old blood cancer survivor, wrote on Facebook that he was running the Chicago marathon with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had not lived to see the last marathon.“This will be my 9th Chicago and 20th overall marathon and I’m running it with more purpose than ever,” he wrote.

At the same time, an Odia teenager with Down syndrome marathoned 5 kilometers in Chicago, proving that nothing is impossible when there is a strong will. Meanwhile, Leah Howell, a survivor of kidney disease, participated in the Chicago Marathon to raise awareness and help with kidney health. 

Likewise, 67-year-old Tim Paul, who lost his sight when he was in his 20s, also ran his 24th marathon in Chicago. Tethered to a guide runner, Paul made it clear that he does not only want to be perceived as blind, but as a marathon runner. Beyond running, he has also participated in triathlons and downhill skiing, and his inspiring story is featured in the documentary I’m Only Blind.

Altogether, these participants show the courage of those taking on the streets of Chicago, each running not only for themselves but for a purpose, a cause, and inspiration for others.

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