Dec 20, 2024
2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Official Charity Team
Black Girls RUN! Foundation is so honored to be selected for the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Official Charity Program. The 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 12, 2025. Please meet our six amazing charity athletes, support them in their fundraising efforts, and follow them on their journey to the finish line!
Support Black Girls RUN! Foundation
https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/teams/black-girls-run-foundation-1?partner=fc7c6d285065182acca9
Vouionette Burns-Harris
For the love of running, I’m Vouionette Burns-Harris, and I’m a 49-year-old mom of three who has been married for approximately 22 years. I’m from Eudora, Arkansas and spent my formative years in Las Vegas, Nevada. I earned my Master’s in Human Relations degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2009. My professional background is in human resources and labor/employee relations. I’ve worked as a Civil Servant for the past 15 years, an avid community volunteer, and recent child advocate. I have been running with Black Girls RUN! since 2012 and with more deliberate purpose since 2019, which has not only helped me to regain control of my physical health and empowered me to break free of the emotional burdens I carried.
In 2010 I lost a very dear friend of 20 years to a motorcycle accident and the grief of her loss led to depression, social anxiety, significant weight gain, along with a host of other associated health issues. I happened to be chatting with a co-worker one day who mentioned the run group Black Girls RUN! and for me to check them out on Facebook. I signed up on the site and at that time they were promoting a couch to 5k event, and from there my journey took off. I participated in the Valentines Cupid 5k, Susan G. Komen running events, and a host of other marketed events that promoted women’s wellness.
As a teenage mom who was told everything she could not do and would not be, running gave me self-empowerment, community and support. Finally, I no longer create distractions to avoid me! The beautiful expression of this journey is I now literally run to me (pun intended)! Running has given me a sense of self-empowerment, community, and support, allowing me to reclaim my life and create a new narrative. The enthusiasm and commitment to Black Girls RUN!’s spirit is contagious, and it’s what drives me to continue to inspire others that it’s not too late to start anew, and that with the right support system and mindset, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges and create our own signature!! I will, I am, I can keep running, inspiring, and spreading the message of hope and empowerment. Vouionette Runs!!!
Vouionette Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/vouionette-burns-harris
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shon.burnsharris
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplicity702
Aretha Hampton
My name is Aretha Hampton, and I am many things. I am a mother, grandmother, social worker, professor, gardener and a runner. I discovered a joy for running when I met the BGR! SF Bay Area group at a wine run in 2014. Through BGR, I have experienced some amazing run adventures and met some of my closest friends.
For me, running is meditation in motion. Running quiets my mind, increases my focus, and really allows me to feel my power.
Aretha Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/aretha-hampton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aretha.hampton2012/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawsugar411/
Katie Livesay
My name is Katie Livesay, and I am absolutely thrilled to be participating in the 2025 Chicago Marathon as a proud member of Black Girls RUN! I first tackled the Chicago Marathon in 2018 which ignited my ambition to conquer all six Abbott World Major Marathons before I turn 50. I will be receiving my 6th Star in Tokyo this March and consider Chicago ’25 my victory lap!
Running has been my faithful companion through life’s ups and downs, providing me with resilience, clarity, and a sense of community. I am a dedicated mother of three from Brunswick, Maine; running has been a constant source of joy and strength in my life. I have coached Girls on the Run teams for many years and hope to instill my love for running in younger generations. I am excited to take on this challenge and inspire others to join me in this incredible journey.
Katie’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/katie-livesay
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.livesay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katielivesay16
Tehya Orozco
I am Tehya Orozco, and I am a 22 year old young black woman. I am a loving sister of 5 siblings and a loving daughter to my mother. I am an aspiring artist and a driven runner. When I was in junior high, I was a part of the cross country team and the track team. I have always loved running but when I got into high school, I had to give it up because the school didn’t offer it. After graduation, I went on with my life. Some time passed, and one day my mom joined a run group called “Black Girls RUN!.” I was curious so I went to my moms first 5k to see what they were about.
When I got there I immediately noticed a group of ladies with Black Girls RUN! shirts. While I was watching my mom I noticed how supportive they were. They stayed to cheer for my mom as she passed mile markers, and they were there for her at the finish. Immediately I knew that was where I wanted to be. Since then I have run 7 races with BGR! with 1 being my first half. I want to give back the support and care that BGR! has shown me since I joined in 2021. I hope with me representing BGR! that it shows other black women the care and support that we share, and it encourages them to want to be a part of it.
Tehya’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/tehya-orozco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010059215273
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamittlol/
Tiquella Russell
I am Tiquella Russell, a 48.5 year old black woman, loving and devoted partner, mom to 6 beautiful souls, a registered nurse, and a total wellness advocate! I’m excited to be chosen and participate in and represent the BLACK GIRLS RUN! (BGR!) Foundation charity team for the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. I joined BGR! and BGR! Houston in February 2021 as a “lurker” (LOL) ! I’ll never forget my introductory post in the BGR! Houston group in the summer of 2022. I had completed the couch to 5k app on my own and was ready to join the beautiful group of ladies I had been so fervently admiring from a safe and lurking distance! I simply inquired: “Hey, how do I get started?” These supportive women encouraged me to just come on out and move!
I joined the group near me in NW Houston on the pavement on September 29, 2022. This group was a phenomenal tribe of women who called themselves the BGR of Houston Waterway Divas, and they had me running my first 5k race within 1 week! I completed it as a slow run, but I ran nonetheless with the ladies cheering me at unsuspecting intervals, cheering my name as I turned for the last stretch. At that time, I realized I could do more than I realized. From that moment on, I ran my next 10k, then went on to run close to 10 more and moved on to complete my first half marathon, Bridge of the Gods in August 2023. I am determined to continue my love of running, excelling, and being my best self as I run the race I have placed before myself in life.
I have gratitude for being chosen for this opportunity, excited to represent all the greatness that BGR! has to offer to the tribe, the community, the nation, and to every soul that my journey touches. I am passionate about total wellness in the black community, and it starts with black women. A vital component to total wellness is our physical wellness. We sometimes struggle from decisions in our past, but I am here to yell out loud that it is never too late. It takes time, effort, fervent desire, dedication, commitment, and a determination to be the best we can be for ourselves and those around us. I plan to represent this paradigm in my life as I represent BGR!. Though track and field is my favorite sport, prior to BGR, I had no prior running/race experiences except sheer desire to run. Since joining BGR!, my daughter has followed suit and we run all races as a mother/daughter. I run as a plus size African American woman with the stigma on our backs that we don’t work out, we don’t run, and we don’t value our wellness. I run to encourage other women who look like me to go for what you want in life even though it will be challenging. Let’s do this!
Tiquella’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/tiquella-russell-bgrgoal5k
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiquella
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butterfliesnvrchange
Naomi Woodard
One of my greatest joys is serving others and giving back to my community. I volunteer weekly at the North Texas Food Bank and enjoy participating in various activities at my church. Traveling is another passion of mine, and I’ve been fortunate enough to explore numerous cities and countries, often finding myself on beautiful cruises to warm, tropical destinations.
My running journey is a bit non-traditional. I started with Black Girls RUN! in 2016. It was a slow start for me, and I often found myself at the back of the pack. However, I stuck with it, and before I knew it, I was leading and supporting others from the front! Once I set my mind to something I make sure to see it through. I’m proud to say that I recently completed my first marathon at the age of 52! Although the journey hasn’t been easy, I’ve built both endurance and confidence with each mile I conquer. Just like travel, distance running has taken me to unimaginable places. Every race has shown me that I can achieve things I once thought were impossible all while prioritizing my health. From my experiences, I truly hope to inspire non-runners to recognize their own potential. It all starts by simply showing up and taking that first step to walk!
Naomi’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/naomi-woodard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomi.woodard