Chicagoals: My 10th marathon

Oct. 7, 2018 will mark my 10th marathon.

Ten marathons in seven years; completing one is a huge accomplishment. Working toward a 10th? Well, I’m not sure what that says about me.

Training for a marathon is an enormous commitment. It takes more than just time and dedication. It takes discipline, sacrifice, humility, pain, resiliency, courage, strength, hope, love and faith.

And training is more than just race day; it’s every mile leading up to the day. You raise the bar even higher when you commit to charity – there’s additional pressure to maintain healthy training and to be there on race day, ready for whatever your run will bring.

As a charity runner, the marathon is not just about committing to myself; it’s a commitment to my cause, team, donors and my patients and their families.

In celebration of my 10th marathon, I’ve chosen to run for the Advocate Charitable Team in honor of the many patients who engage in the creative healing processes of art therapy at Advocate Children’s Hospital.

I am an art therapist for the division of hematology/oncology. Every single day, I witness both the small and large ways art therapy empowers, encourages and elicits self-expression and self-awareness and instills hope. I run for the children and teens who inspire me daily with their insights, wisdom, honesty, creativity, curiosity and humor.

I am honored to be invited into their worlds, providing space for their creative healing as they navigate their medical experiences.

My miles are fueled by their images. Their stories. Their courage. Their beautiful hearts.

Because of them, I run forward with hope and love.

Lori Mackey is an art therapist for the division of hematology/oncology at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill. Learn more about Team Advocate here.