I am running the Chicago Marathon, all 26.2 miles, God willing, again. 

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.

This will be my third time running the Chicago Marathon and per usual, I am fundraising for the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund (PCRF). We are capable of doing hard things, but as I've trained for the Chicago Marathon the running feels like nothing that the children of Palestine are facing. It is because of them that I continue to run. For those unaware, PCRF is an organization aimed at providing access to excellent medical care for Palestinian children, as they receive treatment within and outside of Palestine. 

In training for the marathon, I will 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 12th, 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.