On October 13, over 50,000 runners raced through the streets of Chicago to compete in the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Each one of those 50,000 ran with their own motivations, goals, and intentions, but 23 of those people were running for proactive suicide prevention through Hope for the Day’s Team Thrive.

Team Thrive celebrates the connection between our mental and physical health and no one captured that sense of celebration more than Team Thrive member Reilly Jo Swanson.

“The marathon was easily one of the best days of my life,” Swanson said. “The unwavering support from random strangers was life changing. I ran the race with my best friend and it was just such a challenging, yet rewarding experience. I couldn't stop smiling the whole time.”

Reilly Jo Swanson high-fives a Hope for the Day staff member while running the Chicago Marathon.

This was Swanson’s first marathon. She chose to run it for Hope for the Day because, as someone who’s seen the affects of suicide, she wants to educate herself to help improve the lives of those around her, especially those she serves as an academic advisor. Having completed this accomplishment, Swanson feels more empowered than ever.

“It showed me how strong I am — mentally and physically,” Swanson said. “I truly believe that I can do almost anything after this experience.”

While competing in a marathon can be a positive, life-changing experience, the reality is that running 26.2 miles is a grueling feat. Even with all the training, it still strains the mind and body and can cause even the best laid plans to unravel.

Team Thrive runners Drew Stagg and Jill Perry encountered some of those inevitable variables on race day.

“I did not accomplish my goal time,” Stagg said. “But I accomplished my main two goals: Those being to rep Hope for the Day and Team Thrive, and to be present and enjoy the moment.”

According to Stagg, those goals helped keep him going throughout the race. He was able to embrace the support, seek out the positive, and dig deep for motivation to get through.

Around the 18th mile of the runners’ journeys throughout the city, the Hope for the Day tent reading “it’s ok not to be ok” served as a beacon of hope. Several staff members crowded the tent and sidelines cheering on Team Thrive and all the runners. For Stagg, it served as a reminder that he was running for a cause bigger than himself.

“I chose to run for Hope for the Day because as a teacher, coach, and father I know how crucial mental health is in our communities,” Stagg said.

Perry, a Team Thrive veteran and Hope for the Day volunteer, knows firsthand the difference a bit of support makes — both while running a marathon and in the day-to-day. Professionally, she works as a therapist, and has been able to bring some of her experience to her time volunteering with Hope for the Day at events.

“On more than one occasion, I've had the honor of bearing witness to the stories of strangers and breathing with them through anxiety or panic,” Perry said.

That desire to help others and the support from those around her helped keep her motivated throughout the marathon. This year’s race was more challenging for Perry as she hasn’t just been training for 26.2 miles, but for a 50 mile race in November. This made an already arduous day even more demanding.

Jill Perry takes a brief break at the Hope for the Day tent.

“I loved the crowds, I loved being with other runners, but I think my physical pain threshold and energy levels from training made it difficult for me to really enjoy the race the way I have in years past,” Perry said. “It was an adventure in adapting this year.”

During that adventure, Perry walked away with a lesson learned relevant to running a marathon and just living life.

“I think my biggest takeaway from this marathon was that I have to be flexible; the things I want to happen don't always happen and they're not going to always look the way I want them to,” Perry said. “I had to find the joy where I could, ride the moments of freedom that were there, and find a reason to take another step; repeatedly.”
Registration for the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon is now open! If you would like to join Team Thrive for the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, you can learn more here.

Special thanks to all our 2024 Team Thrive members:

Allison Kaleta
Amy Veivia
Caitlin Wheeler
Drew Stagg
Emily Lorenz
Evan Veivia
Francisco Huerta
Gabrielle Gazzola
Geraldine Torres
Jacob Laureano
Jill Perry
Karina Wise
Lucas Guariglia
Madeline Danz Kearney
Madison Zizmer
Matthew Ek
Megan Mulroy
Nathan Dekieffer
Nicolas Hills
Pat Stradinger
Reilly Jo Swanson
Rich Newton
Rogelio Torres
Samantha Kiluk
Shane Peterson
Tyler Kopydlowski

Team Thrive’s Lessons Learned Running the Chicago Marathon