I am running the Chicago Marathon, all 26.2 miles, God willing.
For those of you that know me, I'm very vocal about my Palestinian roots. Although I was born and raised in Chicago, I still call Palestine "home." My heart is deeply attached to a land that has fostered resilience, passion, discipline, and motivation within me. As a physician myself, I am well aware of the benefits of health care - but it only works when people have access to the care that they need. One of my goals in life is to take my training and knowledge and practice medicine in Palestine.
Until then, this fundraiser is just a small contribution to two of my favorite things in life - medicine and Palestine. Now, I never thought I'd be running the Chicago Marathon. And if you know me, I never ran a mile before I started training for this. But, it's always been a dream of mine to run the Chicago Marathon and I couldn't have been more excited to fundraise for PCRF - the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund - an organization aimed at providing access to excellent medical care for Palestinian children.
In training for the marathon, I've run over 435 miles, and my goal by the end of this is to run a collective total of 500 miles over the course of the year. I figured it would be a win-win to fundraise while I embark on this personal journey. You can donate any amount you want and truly every bit counts. When I cross the finish line on October 10th, it will be our accomplishment. We would have raised money for a noble cause. Your every dollar is the support and encouragement I appreciate (and would love) as I run 26.2 miles.
For those of you in Chicago, I invite you to join me along the route as a spectator and come celebrate as we cross the finish line.
Yours truly, Deena Kishawi.
The PCRF is a legally-registered non-political, non-profit, 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization established in 1991 by concerned people to address the medical and humanitarian needs of Palestinian and Arab youths in the Middle East. We have provided thousands of children life-saving care based on their need, not on religion, gender, nationality or sect.
The main objective of the PCRF is to identify and treat every child in the Middle East in need of specialized surgery not available to them locally. We locate, sponsor and run international, volunteer medical missions to the Middle East, in additional to locating free medical care abroad for children who cannot be adequately treated in the Middle East. The PCRF is the main organization regularly sending injured and sick Arab children to North and South America, the Middle East and Europe for free care that is not available to them there. Since 1991 over 1,000 children have been abroad for millions of dollars of donated care, and over 10,000 have had complex surgery by our visiting medical missions to the region. The PCRF has been awarded the top 4-star rating by Charity Navigator for fiscal management, while being able to treat more kids than any other charity in the Middle East.
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| James Mendez | 01/08/2022 | $50.00 | Anonymous Friend | 10/10/2021 | $50.00 | Joan Kane | 10/10/2021 | $25.00 | Thrilled to support Deena in her Chicago Marathon Challenge! | Anonymous Friend | 10/10/2021 | $418.80 | Reem Hussein | 10/09/2021 | $100.00 | Inshallah we will see a free Palestine in our lifetime. Thank you so much for raising this money Deena and may Allah reward you greatly. | Shehab Khashaba | 10/09/2021 | $100.00 | Neha Ansari | 10/09/2021 | $25.00 | So proud of you and happy to donate to this noble cause!! You got this tomorrow!!! | Wedad Yassin | 10/09/2021 | $100.00 | Allah Yiwafkik! No better way to see the the city! Enjoy every moment! | Ala Ismail | 10/09/2021 | $25.00 | Good luck! You got this! | Ehab Akhras | 10/08/2021 | $200.00 | Good Luck Dina, the Akhras family! | F Alex Gardner | 10/07/2021 | $200.00 | Witnessing your progression on your life’s journey has been amazing. Much success in this your latest endeavor. | Anonymous Friend | 10/05/2021 | $20.00 | In awe of all you do. Rooting for you Deena! | Anonymous Friend | 10/05/2021 | $50.00 | May Allah always bless you with His love, honour you wherever you walked a step in a goodness way for Him and Palestine, and fulfil all your dreams, Ameen ??? | Anonymous Friend | 10/05/2021 | $500.00 | So proud of you! | Anonymous Friend | 10/05/2021 | $50.00 | I came across your Twitter while "Twitter hopping" one day, and have since become a distant admirer. Go Deena!! :) | Kristina Hrvojevic | 10/04/2021 | $26.20 | YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!! | Autefeh Sajjadi | 10/03/2021 | $50.00 | So proud of you! MashAllah! | Anonymous Friend | 10/03/2021 | $15.00 | Good luck!!! | Rachel Anderson | 10/02/2021 | $25.00 | Wahoo!! It’s almost the day!! Good luck!! | Nouha Boundaoui | 09/29/2021 | $30.00 | Best of luck!! | Anonymous Friend | 09/27/2021 | $20.00 | Nabila Omar | 09/27/2021 | $50.00 | From a Gazan living in the US | Anonymous Friend | 09/27/2021 | $10.00 | Ann Marie Kirby | 09/27/2021 | $30.00 | "Marathon imitates life – never give up. Good luck!" Congratulations on all your achievements, Deena! | Anonymous Friend | 09/26/2021 | $10.00 | Subhi Saadeh | 09/26/2021 | $5.00 | Hiam Askar | 09/25/2021 | $100.00 | Anonymous Friend | 09/25/2021 | $25.00 | Good luck on the run….as you take ever step remember to make duaa that Allah will continue to protect and bless the Palestinian people. | Fatma Ciftci | 09/24/2021 | $100.00 | So proud of the amazing thing you do Deena! Will be cheering you on in spirit | Warda Ktk | 09/24/2021 | $50.00 | Go Deena!!!!!! | Reem Dana | 09/23/2021 | $100.00 | Good job Deena May Allah accept from you and your family and all Good lock | Anonymous Friend | 09/23/2021 | $25.00 | Ahmad Taha | 09/23/2021 | $100.00 | Proud of you D! | Adeeba Mabruk | 09/23/2021 | $50.00 | You got this! Best of luck :) | Anonymous Friend | 09/23/2021 | $20.00 | So proud of you always, Deena. ♥️?? | Hoda Magid | 09/23/2021 | $100.00 | Mariam El-Khatib | 09/23/2021 | $20.00 | Inshallah it’ll be 26.2 miles closer to a free Palestine and a return to Home! Best of luck! | Humayoon Ismail | 09/23/2021 | $20.00 | Mariam Nawas | 09/23/2021 | $100.00 | Proud of you! <3 | Bonnie Mason | 09/23/2021 | $50.00 | Eman Sarhan | 09/23/2021 | $200.00 | Sherri Gardner | 09/23/2021 | $75.00 | I’m always in awe of your accomplishments and this is no different, you got this Deena!! | Eden Takhsh | 09/23/2021 | $100.00 | Runna Othman | 09/23/2021 | $25.00 | So proud of you! ??❤️ | Katie Giordano | 09/23/2021 | $25.00 | I'm so proud of you! | Zeinab Abubaker | 09/23/2021 | $100.00 | Go sweetie go I know you could make it God bless you | Navi Kaur | 09/23/2021 | $100.00 | Deena! You make me so proud and i know you are doing this for all the right reasons! Love you and you have all my support love!!! ❤️ Now go be the boss woman you already are and finish the marathon like nobody ever has! | Anonymous Friend | 09/23/2021 | $50.00 | Saja Askar | 09/23/2021 | $20.00 | Go Deena ! You’re the best | Danny Hajjar | 09/23/2021 | $25.00 | Tamara Perry | 09/22/2021 | $50.00 | I’m so proud of you! Run your heart out! | Anwar Kishawi | 09/22/2021 | $100.00 | May Allah be with you, and accept your efforts to help PCRF. | Anonymous Friend | 09/22/2021 | $50.00 | Jessica Pierce | 09/22/2021 | $50.00 | See you on race day! I'll be cheering you on! | Anonymous Friend | 09/22/2021 | $100.00 | Hashem Alsaket | 09/22/2021 | $100.00 | Theresa Pham | 09/22/2021 | $100.00 | You are amazing and so inspiring! Go get them! I’ll be (virtually) cheering you on from Seattle. | Joanna Youstra | 09/22/2021 | $50.00 | Proud of you! | Sara Al-Zubi | 09/22/2021 | $10.00 | Good luck, queen!! Proud of you! | Anonymous Friend | 09/22/2021 | $500.00 | Wishing you the best of luck on all of your endeavors | Abrar Ebady | 09/22/2021 | $50.00 | Best of luck Dandoon ❤️ | Anwaar Saadeh | 09/22/2021 | $100.00 | Sami K | 09/22/2021 | $100.00 | Good luck and keep on pushing ahead. Proud of you. |
| Total | $5,125.00 | ||