2024 : Miles for smiles
On October 13, 2024, I crossed the finish line of the Chicago Marathon in 3 hours, 6 minutes and 19 seconds.
On paper, it was one race.
In reality, it was months of discipline, hundreds of training miles, and the generosity of more than fifty people spread across six countries who believed that running 26.2 miles could become something much bigger than sport.
Together, we raised over $3,000 for the Oncology Department at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, supporting children and families facing one of life’s toughest battles.
For me, that number has never represented dollars.
It represents people.
People from the United States, France, Germany, Brazil, Qatar, and Mexico who chose to contribute because they believed that even a small action, multiplied by many, can make a meaningful difference.
One marathon. Six countries of support. $3,000 of hope.
- Chicago Marathon :3:06:19
- October 13, 2024
- Beneficiary: Oncology Department, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
More Than a Personal Goal
Running a marathon had been on my bucket list for years.
As a kid growing up in France, I ran cross-country races through muddy fields and forests near Roches-lès-Blamont. Never in a million years did I imagine that one day I would stand on the starting line of one of the world’s most iconic marathons.
The Chicago Marathon isn’t just another race.
More than 52,000 runners take over the city, passing through neighborhoods rich with history and culture—from the skyscrapers of downtown to Chinatown, Little Italy, Pilsen, the South Side, and along the beautiful shoreline of Lake Michigan.
More than two million spectators line the streets.
The energy is impossible to describe.
You don’t simply run through Chicago.
Chicago carries you.
Every Mile Had a Purpose
Training lasted all summer.
Early mornings.
Long runs.
Intervals.
Strength workouts.
Days when motivation came easily.
Days when it didn’t.
Like every marathon runner, I questioned myself more than once.
But every time I remembered why I was doing it.
Children fighting cancer don’t get to skip the hard days.
That thought made it impossible for me to complain about sore legs or another early alarm.
Every training run became a reminder that I wasn’t preparing only for myself.
I was preparing to represent every person who had donated, encouraged me, or shared the fundraiser.
Race Day
Standing among 52,150 runners, I felt surprisingly calm.
Months of preparation had brought me here.
When the race began, Chicago transformed into one giant celebration.
Bands played on nearly every corner.
Families cheered for complete strangers.
Volunteers handed out water with smiles that never seemed to fade.
People shouted names they had never heard before simply because they were written on race bibs.
It reminded me how powerful encouragement can be.
Sometimes one sentence from a stranger is enough to carry someone through another mile.
Crossing the finish line in 3:06:19, placing 4,485th overall, was incredibly rewarding.
Receiving the medal was unforgettable.
But knowing that, together, we had raised over $3,000 for Lurie’s Children’s Hospital meant far more than my finishing time ever could.
The Greatest Victory Was Shared
People often congratulate me for running the marathon.
The truth is, I didn’t do it alone.
Every donation became another step.
Every encouraging message carried me through another mile.
Every person who shared the fundraiser became part of the journey.
This achievement belongs to all of us.
It proved something I’ve believed for a long time:
When enough people each do a little, extraordinary things happen.
Looking Forward
That marathon changed me.
It reminded me that businesses, careers, and personal goals are meaningful—but they become far more powerful when they’re connected to serving others.
That lesson continues to shape everything I’m building today.
Through Bakers Lake Bread Co., I hope to create more opportunities where great food becomes a vehicle for generosity. Whether it’s donating pastries to children’s hospitals, partnering with local charities, or organizing community fundraising events, I want baking to have an impact beyond the kitchen.
Because sharing bread is wonderful.
Sharing hope is even better.
Thank You
To everyone who donated.
To everyone who shared the fundraiser.
To everyone who sent a message, cheered from the sidelines, or simply believed in this crazy idea.
Thank you.
The medal hangs on my wall.
But the real achievement lives in the lives we were able to touch—together.
And I hope this was only the beginning.