I am SO EXCITED to announce I will be running the 2024 London Marathon in support of Rays of Sunshine Children's Charity! 

For those of you that don’t know me, I am a Pediatric Social Worker in California, and an avid runner. I have two ultra marathons and 14 marathons under my belt, 2 of which have been international. I developed a great passion for running after battling Lyme Disease for multiple years after college; I was on IV antibiotics for 9 months and immobile for much of that. I ran my first marathon in 2017, and in 2019 I set a goal to run all 6 World marathon majors. London is the FINAL one. I am beyond stoked to have the opportunity to raise funds for such an incredible organization, while achieving a life goal. 

For those of you that don’t know about Rays of Sunshine, they have a massive impact on children and families across the UK. Their primary mission is to fulfill the wishes of terminally or seriously ill children (between the ages of 3-18). Examples of wishes include: going to a theme park, meeting a beloved movie or book character, attending a sports game or going on a a shopping spree. Rays of Sunshine also buys equipment for these children and supports the hospices, hospitals and specialist schools that care for them. 

As a pediatric hospital social worker, I get to see first-hand the impact that organizations like this, are making on children and their families. It’s incredible! The organization is positively impacting the lives of these children and their families by granting wishes and providing ongoing support. Rays of Sunshine believes that every child, regardless of race and gender, deserves to experience happiness and put their illness on hold…even if it is just for one day. Their work provides a positive distraction, reduces isolation, improves self-esteem and creates meaningful memories for all those they serve. Please visit the link here to learn more: https://raysofsunshine.org.uk/the-charity/

Many of you reading this have already greatly impacted me personally, professionally and in my running career. Together, we can impact hundreds and thousands of more lives through giving to Rays of Sunshine. THANK YOU so much in advance for the support and for your donations. Truly, any amount helps! 

Keep track of my journey and training progress on this page, follow along on instagram (@ae_lizabeth_), and catch me at the start line in London on April 21, 2024!