Chris is running for Joan.

Why I'm Running for Joan

In April 2027, I'll run the London Marathon in honor of my mother, Joan Hale, who passed away on October 23, 2024, after a fierce battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia — specifically the TP53 mutation, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease.

I remember the night everything changed. I was out celebrating my birthday with two close friends, laughing, completely unaware of what was coming. When I got home, I saw a message from my mom: "Call me when you can." She'd waited until she knew I was home before telling me the news — even in the face of her own diagnosis, she was thinking of me. That was my Mom, Joan Hale. Selfless, strong, full of grace, right to the end. Six months later, she was gone.

She never got the chance to run her own marathon. It had always been one of her dreams. So, in 2022, I ran mine. She was there at the NYC Marathon, cheering, waiting right before the finish line. She was the last person I hugged after that race. I didn't know it then, but it would be one of our last big moments together.

This April, I'll run my second marathon in her memory. And I'm not stopping at London. I've committed to running all eight Abbott World Marathon Majors: New York ☑️, Boston, Chicago, Berlin, Cape Town, Tokyo, Sydney, and now London, raising awareness for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and funds for cancer research at every start line. Each race is another chance to say her name and push a little closer to a cure.

I'll wear the same small locket holding some of her ashes, so she crosses this finish line too — just like she did in New York.

My goal is to raise $10,000 for London. Every dollar supports research, helps families facing this disease, and honors a woman who spent her final months thinking about everyone but herself.

If you're able to give, no matter the amount, it would mean the world. Thank you for carrying this with me.