I am running the 2024 Chicago Marathon with the American Heart Association to honor the memory of my father, William Terry Smith Jr. My father was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma at age 22. His treatment cured him from the cancer, but the radiation took a toll on his heart. Normal daily activities were never easy for him after that. However, he did his best not to be held back. He went on to get married and to start a family. He worked so hard to provide a great life for my mother, my three brothers and me. He was there to coach our athletic teams as long as he could, and when he could no longer coach, he made sure he was there to watch. His family was his first priority, and we always felt his love and support. Along the way, he had multiple surgeries to help his heart. He had a pacemaker put in and both valves replaced. And while ultimately these efforts could not save his life, they did give him almost 30 years that we will always be so grateful for. Running with the American Heart Association allows me to show my gratitude by raising money to contribute to research and education that can help others live many, many extra years too.
My dad passed away on June 3rd, 2017, from congestive heart failure. I miss him every day. He told my mom once how much he missed being able to run and shared a “great” dream he had. He said he was running and running in his dream and wasn’t tired at all. It reminded him of his days playing football and he wished so bad that he could have that feeling again. So, now I will run for both of us. And I know he will be with me the entire way. Thank you for supporting American Heart Association. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.