Four years ago, I was with my closest friends at a lake house in Wisconsin, when a swimming accident left me with a broken neck and a long road ahead to put back together the pieces of my life. Just like training for this marathon, I've needed tremendous support to build the endurance required to finally get to a place where I can help give back to the community. I'm racing in this year's marathon to start the process of paying forward the help that I've received from everyone along the way, and to continue building my mental and physical toughness.
The money I raise is going to “Unite 2 Fight Paralysis,” as well as a pretty awesome charity called "Spinal Cord Injury Sucks" - a bit on the nose, but definitely accurate. These two organizations are small and nimble enough to put the money where it will count in the effort to help restore function to those with spinal cord injuries, many of whom don't have the opportunity to race in the marathon.
Thank you so much for your continued support! I hope to see you at the finish!
(The star of the photo is my dog Tiger; he hangs with me in the gym and runs along side my hand cycle when we cross-train).
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Time Goal: Since it's my first, I'd like to finish, but my stretch goal is 3 hours.
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis and Spinal Cord Injury Sucks are proud to partner again this year as an official charity team for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Team SCIS/u2fp is a group of passionate, hard working runners and wheelchair racers committed to racing the 26.2 miles and fundraising to advance research towards a cure for spinal cord injury.
The team raised over $73,000 in the past two years. All funds directly support our mission: to cure paralysis through advocacy, education, and support for research. Thank you for your support!
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Ana Kamath | 10/01/2018 | $50.00 | Thank you for inspiring us to be better persons. | Andrew Miller | 07/01/2018 | $100.00 | From Drew and Anne. | Katie Bialobok | 10/06/2017 | $25.00 | Good luck Tyler!! | Jim & Debbie Brockman | 10/03/2017 | $100.00 | Good luck!! | Cam Caldwell | 10/01/2017 | $150.00 | Boomtown | Clare Birmingham | 09/29/2017 | $75.00 | Let's just make it a round $4k. Can't wait to cheer you on!! So so proud of you <3 Clare + Ian | Geoffrey Kent | 09/19/2017 | $500.00 | 4147 | Joseph Stoner | 09/18/2017 | $25.00 | Get it, Dude! | Charlie Witkowski | 09/17/2017 | $150.00 | William Esch | 09/13/2017 | $50.00 | Michael Ireland | 09/12/2017 | $100.00 | Do it for America! | Pooja Pittie | 09/12/2017 | $50.00 | Good luck! | Jim Gecan | 09/12/2017 | $50.00 | Anonymous Friend | 09/12/2017 | $10.00 | $3k whaatttuuppppp | Jen Silva | 09/12/2017 | $50.00 | Good luck, Tyler!! | Scott Meyer | 08/28/2017 | $50.00 | Patricia Graves | 08/17/2017 | $100.00 | Will be there ... cheering you on | Joan Masterson | 08/15/2017 | $300.00 | Love and good luck from your Gram. | Jeffrey Press | 08/14/2017 | $50.00 | You're an inspiration man, proud to call you a friend. Keep crushing it. | James & Jaime Serback | 08/14/2017 | $50.00 | We love you & couldn't be more proud of you Ty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | Lisa Slatkavitz | 08/10/2017 | $40.00 | Good luck Tyler!!! You will crush it out there!!! <3 Lisa & Tim | Jon Kamp | 08/07/2017 | $50.00 | Amazing stuff - see you on race day | Anonymous Friend | 08/07/2017 | $150.00 | Diane & Steve Tillorson | 08/06/2017 | $100.00 | Best of luck in the marathon, Tyler. Uncle Steve & I are behind you & are so proud of you!!!! We love you!!!!! | Carolyn Stanek | 08/05/2017 | $50.00 | Reach your goals, Tyler! | Bob Muellner | 08/05/2017 | $395.00 | Tyler, your efforts are extremely inspirational and does so much for others. All the best...Bob | MATTHEW HAULER | 08/04/2017 | $100.00 | Good luck my friend! | Vicki Bromberger | 08/04/2017 | $200.00 | So proud of you. | Audrey Bromberger | 08/04/2017 | $250.00 | Love you!! | Natalie LaBarbera | 08/04/2017 | $50.00 | You continue to inspire! Best of Luck on the race! | Dana Cook | 08/04/2017 | $100.00 | Crushin' it, T! Mom and aunties will be cruising around Chi following your flight path! | Ana Rovito | 08/04/2017 | $50.00 | Jen LeGros | 08/03/2017 | $50.00 | I'm so proud of you!!! | Erica Dale | 08/03/2017 | $50.00 | Git it, son! XOXO | Dave Masterson | 08/03/2017 | $100.00 | Roll on, my son. | Kalyan, Roshan, and Ananya Baby | 08/03/2017 | $500.00 | proud of you | Sean & Katie Birmingham | 08/03/2017 | $50.00 | Proud of you Tyler! Can't wait to cheer you on! Love always, Sean, Katie, Elizabeth, Baby Birm & Otto Boy | Jesse Sherwood | 07/26/2017 | $100.00 | Can't wait to cheer you on! Go Tyler Go! | Anonymous Friend | 07/18/2017 | $5.00 | We're excited to have you on the team, Tyler! Good luck! |
| Total | $4,425.00 | ||