Jan 26, 2026
2026 BGR! Foundation Chicago Marathon Charity Team
Black Girls RUN! Foundation is so honored to be selected for the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Official Charity Program. The 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 11, 2026. Please meet our nine 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-2?partner=17d0e38d3a53e3fba040
Alisha Brown
Alisha Brown is a passionate advocate, communications professional and educator who discovered her love of running later in life after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2021. Professionally, she holds a doctorate and brings a deep commitment to leadership, education, and service into everything she does. What began as a single 5K in spring 2025 —encouraged by a close friend—evolved into a powerful journey of rebuilding trust with her body, reclaiming confidence, and ultimately completing the 2025 New York City Marathon. Outside of running, she enjoys traveling, exploring new challenges, spending time with family, and embracing experiences that support growth, wellness, and joy.
As a member of the Black Girls RUN! Chicago Marathon team, her mission is to inspire others—especially those living with chronic conditions—to believe that movement is possible, powerful, and transformative. Every mile she runs represents progress, resilience, and the courage to show up fully, even on hard days. Through storytelling, advocacy, and visibility, she hopes to remind others that they are more capable than they think and that running doesn’t require perfection—just heart and the determination to keep moving forward. Alisha is proud to use her platform to encourage more women to lace up, trust their bodies, and discover what’s possible, one step at a time.
Alisha’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/alisha-brown
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlishaMoniqueB
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyourtypicaldiabetic/ and https://www.instagram.com/dr.ab_allday
Maxine Campbell
Maxine Campbell is a dedicated educator, runner, and wellness coach who believes in leading by example—both in and out of the classroom. By day, she inspires young minds as a passionate teacher; beyond the school walls, she empowers women to prioritize their health, movement, and mindset. Whether she’s training for endurance races, showing up for her community, or sharing her wellness journey, Maxine is committed to consistency, growth, and helping others become the best version of themselves without waiting for “the right time.”
As a wellness advocate and accountability leader, Maxine uses her platform to motivate others to take control of their health through movement, discipline, and supportive supplementation especially during life’s busiest seasons.
Her message is simple: progress over perfection, action over excuses, and community over comparison.
Maxine’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/maxine-campbell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maxine.campbell.921
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruneducator/
Rachée Fagg
I am Rachée (say it, “Rah-shay”) Fagg, and I am thrilled to represent Black Girls RUN! for the Chicago Marathon.
After watching from the sidelines for years, I started officially running with BGR! Philly in 2019 when I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. It was empowering to see people who looked like me taking control of their health and fitness, and I wanted to do the same. Through the years running has helped me cope with personal and health issues and has taught me that I can do pretty much anything I think I can.
The support I have found through BGR! helped keep me in partial remission for years after I was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2016. Due to running and having the tools to take control of my health, BGR! has vastly improved my quality of life post kidney transplant surgery.
BGR! is amazing, supportive, encouraging, motivating, gently encouraging me to push myself, to run my race, to show up and be present for myself. When I was walking/wogging/running before, I always felt like I was competing with my fellow runners, and I did not always have the tools to follow myself. This time around, I feel empowered. I feel strong. I feel ready to receive the physical fitness that I deserve, and I want to help other women feel this way.
Rachée’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/rachee-fagg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sayitrahshay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sayitrahshay/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sayitrahshay
Blog: https://sayitrahshay.com/
Marisa Henry
Marisa Henry is originally from the beautiful island nation of St. Kitts. She was raised in Miami and now proudly calls South Jersey home. Her Black Girls RUN! journey began in June 2015 when she joined the South Jersey chapter and attended her very first chapter event. What started as a single run quickly became a powerful sisterhood that transformed her perspective on fitness, running, and herself. Since joining BGR!, she has completed countless races ranging from 5Ks and 10-milers to the Philadelphia Marathon, two Ragnar Relays, and every distance in between, growing with each mile not only as a runner, but as a person.
In 2017, she was honored to become an Ambassador for the South Jersey chapter, stepping into the role to give back to an organization that transformed her body, strengthened her confidence, and reshaped her approach to running both mentally and physically. She is proud to represent Black Girls RUN! as she raises funds for the Black Girls RUN! Foundation while training for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. For her, this journey is about more than miles—it’s about creating space, encouraging others, and helping ensure Black women runners continue to be seen and supported on courses everywhere.
Marisa’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/marisa-henry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marisa.henry.90
Instagram:https://instagram.com/forevermarisa718
Dr. Carolyn Moore
For the past twelve years, running has been more than just a hobby—it’s been a way of life for this determined and passionate athlete. From her early days of 5Ks to conquering half marathons and marathons, her dedication to the sport has shaped not only her fitness but also her mindset. Completing an Ironman 70.3 stands as a proud testament to her perseverance, grit, and love for pushing beyond limits. Running has become her sanctuary, offering clarity and balance amidst life’s daily demands and serving as a source of strength and stress relief.
With her eyes set on ambitious goals, she is currently chasing two major milestones: earning the prestigious Six Star Finisher medal by completing all World Marathon Majors and running a marathon in every U.S. state. Her enthusiasm and drive inspire everyone around her, showing that with consistency and heart, anything is possible. Whether she’s training on quiet morning roads or crossing finish lines in bustling cities, her journey continues to celebrate endurance, passion, and the boundless spirit of the running community.
Carolyn’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/carolyn-moore
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.l.moore
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmo42
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cmo42
Shantel Ruff
The Chicago Marathon will be Shantel’s first marathon! What began as simple outdoor walks for clarity and peace has grown into a powerful journey of discipline, self-trust, and resilience. Running with Black Girls RUN! community has taught her about sisterhood, listening to your body, and that inner voice that says keep going.Shantel is training for this marathon with intention, gratitude, and a deep love for the sport that has shaped her life.
Shantel’s marathon journey is rooted in purpose beyond the finish line, as she wears the bib for the Black Girls RUN! Foundation. She runs to honor community, representation, and the belief that Black women deserve space, support, and celebration in endurance sports. She hopes to inspire women and youth-especially first time runners-to start where they are, move at their own pace, and trust that showing up consistently can change everything.
Shantel’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/shantel-ruff
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funfitshan
Trisha Shunk-Christian
A self-described “late bloomer,” Trisha started running at age 50 to lose weight and to improve her performance in cardio-based activities like hiking and gym fitness. It was around that time in 2014, she found BGR! Washington DC. Now at 61 years old, she finds herself being a role model for others and leading other older women in their health and fitness journey.
“I do all the things,” Trisha says, and she does for the most part with the goal of representing all the things that an over 60 lady can do. That includes running ultra distances, competing in multiple sport events like duathlon, section-hiking the Appalachian Trail, perfecting her outdoors skills, and being a positive role model for her kids and grandkids.
Running provides Trisha a clear road map for improvement and excellence one training mile at a time.
Trisha’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/trisha-shunk-christian
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com//trishachristian
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gritlife_with_trish
Celeste Washington-Taylor
Celeste Washington-Taylor was born and raised in the mountains of Kentucky and now lives in Savannah, Georgia. She is a proud mother of two daughters (Cadence and Aris), an Assistant Vice President at Bank of America approaching her 10-year anniversary, a business owner, and an active community leader. Celeste serves on her church’s praise and worship team, represents her school district on Georgia’s Parent Advisory Council, and holds multiple leadership roles within her daughter’s school community. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Above all, she is a dedicated runner and CrossFitter.
At the age of 31, Celeste was diagnosed with perimenopause, a life-altering season that brought unanswered questions, health challenges, and deep emotional struggle. In January 2025, she recommitted to her health, returning to CrossFit after four years and rebuilding her strength with intention and faith. That journey led her to take on her first half marathon, despite never having run a 5K and crossing the finish line in 2 hours and 19 minutes, far surpassing expectations. Running alongside her Black Girls RUN! sisters at the 2026 Chicago Marathon will be a celebration and a testimony that with God, anything is possible. Celeste is truly honored to represent Black Girls RUN!, running not just for herself but for purpose, perseverance and every woman learning to reclaim her power.
Celeste’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/celeste-washington-taylor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celestew22
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsme_mizzc
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mizzc22
Rhonda White
Ronda White is an Indiana native, a Black Girls RUN! Indianapolis Ambassador, and a Run Coordinator. Known for her curiosity, discipline, and drive to push beyond her comfort zone, Ronda completed her first half marathon in 2023, discovering not only newfound physical strength but also the transformative power of sisterhood through Black Girls RUN!. Since then, she’s completed multiple 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons, and in 2025, she tackled two full marathons under challenging circumstances, finishing the Carmel Marathon virtually after it was canceled due to weather, and powering through heavy rain and strong winds at the Detroit Free Press Marathon.
Ronda is training for the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon with a purpose beyond the finish line. Running as a charity athlete for the Black Girls RUN! Foundation allows her to raise funds and awareness for programs that remove barriers to wellness and address health disparities affecting Black women. With every mile, Ronda carries the mission forward, supporting access to training, education, and community that help women live long, strong, and active lives. Through her fundraising journey, she hopes to inspire others to invest in both their health and the collective strength of sisterhood.
Ronda’s Fundraising Page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/ronda-white
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhite.house.52
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrs.ronda_white/