A MESSAGE FROM Chloe's Fundraising Page
When I ran my first marathon in 2019, the first person I locked eyes with as I crossed the finish line was my dad. I had no way of knowing that only six months afterwards, he would pass unexpectedly. My dad was the kind of parent whose adoration was undeniable: he said "I love you and I miss you" so often that he created an abbreviation just so he could text it to my family more frequently; he practiced the commute to my first job out of college so I could navigate the transition smoothly; he would meet me at the airport after trips just to make sure I made it home safely. His unconditional support is one of the most formative aspects of who I am today.
His loss has altered my entire universe, leaving a hole in our incredibly close family that can never be filled. He was the wittiest, smartest, warmest man I’ve ever met, and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make him half as proud of me as I am of him.
Navigating the death of a loved one at any age is an overwhelming, all-consuming, and highly individual process that spans a lifetime. Nothing could have prepared me for my dad to pass away when I was just 25, but there are many ways that people can equip themselves and those around them so that grief isn’t so isolating. It is one of the greatest privileges of my life to run the New York City Marathon in honor of my father by raising funds for an organization that is solely dedicated to this cause.
Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss, offers grief and loss education and training to the community and free year-round grief support groups for children and young adults coping with the loss of a loved one. Through their generous support, grieving individuals are able to process their emotions in a safe environment. Death is one of the most universal and inevitable parts of life, and Imagine’s mission helps us move toward a world where grief, trauma and loss can be transformed into resilience, empathy and compassion.
It would mean the world to me, my family and the lives of everyone who has navigated the death of a loved one to receive a donation. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and love; I’m already counting the days until I run on November 1st, visualizing my dad at the finish line the entire way. I adore you all!!!! xx Chloe
