We’re especially excited for this year’s Chicago Marathon because one of our favorite St. Andrew School teachers, Ms. W., is running in support of OHU students. Rachel Werderits has been a long-time supporter of One Heart Uganda’s mission, and this October she’s combining her passion for education and running in the race. Show your support for her and our scholars: https://www.pledge.to/chicago-marathon-rachel-for-one-heart-uganda
Education and running have always been passions of mine, but they’ve existed separately for most of my life. When I found an opportunity to cross the two, I took it… and ran! Beginning in March 2020, at the start of the pandemic, I sought ways I could connect with my students without seeing them in person. I started running to each of their houses armed with a couple of sticks of sidewalk chalk and left messages on the sidewalk or driveway with practice problems and notes, and pretty soon I had visited each of their homes – all 43 of them! Once we were able to safely return to school and sports, I wanted to maintain that bond we’d forged so I started joining the Saint Andrew Cross Country practices as frequently as I could to do my own marathon training, but also help nurture the love of running in the budding athletes who are near and dear to me.
This year, I was presented with an opportunity to help other children thousands of miles away with their education in a different way. While I can’t teach the students at our sister school, Saint Andrew in Uganda, I can make my miles in Chicago meaningful. This year, I am running the Chicago Marathon for One Heart Uganda. I’m hoping that with support, we can fundraise so that all One Heart Uganda students are given the opportunity to access the education they desperately want. Won’t you consider joining me in this mission?
