City: Arvada, CO
Profession: Google
Fundraising Goal: $10,000
Race Goal: 4-5 hours
What is your connection to U2FP? Why did you choose to run in support of U2FP?
Jake Beckstrom [U2FP's CAN Manager] is my cousin and I am here to support him! At the age of 16, Jake had a diving accident in a backyard pool and sustained a C4-6 spinal cord injury. I am so proud of him for all of his accomplishments, especially for receiving a law degree in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. He has a lifelong love of hunting, fishing, and the outdoors! He loves to play games, and is guaranteed to beat me at the Initials Game. I have always wanted to do more to support him, and this cause, and I am so excited to have this challenge and opportunity to fundraise for such a great cause!
How will your donation help Unite 2 Fight Paralysis?
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis exists to unite and empower the international spinal cord injury community to cure paralysis through advocacy, education, and support for research. Your donation will help Unite 2 Fight Paralysis achieve these goals.
Is this your first marathon/race? If not, what others have you completed?
I finished the Chicago Marathon in October 2003 – Almost 20 years ago!
What do you crave after a long run?
A large chocolate chip cookie and my new theragun
What are you most excited and/or nervous about for the marathon?
I am most excited to support Jake! I plan to run the marathon with my brother and his wife, so I am excited to accomplish this major milestone together. I am nervous about building the endurance to finish 26 miles! If you want to run with me for training or race day, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Anything else you’d like to share:
For my fellow Googlers, Google will match your donation! Submit the request at go/give. Please put my name in the comments when you request the match, to count your matching funds towards my fundraising goal!
Thank you for all of your support!
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis is proud to once again be a charity partner for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2022! Help support U2FP’s initiatives to accelerate curative treatments for those living with Spinal Cord Injuries. Team U2FP members have raised nearly $200,000 in the past few years. Thank you for your support to advance research towards a cure for spinal cord injury!
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Anonymous Friend | 12/06/2022 | $100.00 | Glenda Stegenga | 10/17/2022 | $25.00 | Great time running the marathon Samantha! Best, Bob, Jill & Buttercup | Laura Brett | 10/02/2022 | $51.64 | Way to go Samantha! | Perella Weinberg | 10/01/2022 | $50.00 | Carmen Espada | 09/30/2022 | $50.00 | 09/30/2022 | $100.00 | Match for Karin Schmidt | 09/30/2022 | $50.00 | 09/30/2022 | $25.00 | Match for Ray Duenas | 09/30/2022 | $100.00 | Match for Shehryar Siddiqi | 09/30/2022 | $50.00 | Crystal Stephenson | 09/30/2022 | $25.98 | You’re gonna rock this run, Sam! Way to go!! | Marika Tonay | 09/29/2022 | $50.00 | Karin S | 09/19/2022 | $102.98 | Go Sam! You got this! Thanks for supporting an important cause. | Jake Beckstrom | 09/16/2022 | $120.00 | I am so proud of you Cuz! Happy to be the one to put you over the goal line!! Kick ass October 9 ? | Ray Duenas | 09/16/2022 | $25.98 | Go get 'em Sam! | Valentine Matrat | 09/16/2022 | $51.64 | Go Sam! You've trained so hard. You've got this! | Kelli McClain | 09/14/2022 | $102.98 | Go get ‘em girl! | Joey Adams | 09/12/2022 | $102.98 | Good luck Sam! | Dick Davis | 09/10/2022 | $128.37 | Do it! Doooooooo it. | Bj McCarthy | 09/10/2022 | $25.98 | Emily Keeping | 09/09/2022 | $51.64 | Erin Kondratko | 09/09/2022 | $102.98 | Go get ‘em, Sam! Proud of you! | Erin Kala | 09/09/2022 | $25.98 | Run like the wind! | Meghan Dack | 09/09/2022 | $102.98 | Proud of you, Sam - beautiful cause in honor of your brave cousin. | Shehryar Siddiqi | 09/09/2022 | $100.00 | Go Sam!! | Gianna Nocita | 09/05/2022 | $51.64 | Anonymous Friend | 08/29/2022 | $314.22 | Almost there! | Nicolaas vanVliet | 08/26/2022 | $50.00 | 08/26/2022 | $127.31 | Kurt and Elaine Beckstrom | 08/20/2022 | $51.64 | Thank you for running for a great cause! | Matthew Leigh | 08/15/2022 | $311.51 | Charlotte Barry | 08/10/2022 | $52.18 | So impressive, good luck Sam! I'll be cheering from afar :) | Michael Sweet | 08/07/2022 | $513.66 | Kasia Cox | 07/31/2022 | $51.64 | Nice work on your dedication! | Lisa Kish | 07/28/2022 | $102.98 | Joe Evola | 07/24/2022 | $25.98 | Good luck Sam! | Emily Lee | 07/22/2022 | $51.64 | Wow a marathon!! Wonderful and best of luck! | Annie Liddle | 07/20/2022 | $102.98 | Rupal Patel | 07/19/2022 | $51.64 | Mandy Siefert | 07/19/2022 | $25.98 | Good luck Sam!! | Huy Le | 07/19/2022 | $41.38 | Go sam!! Miss you! | Wesley Rich | 07/19/2022 | $102.98 | Walter Golding | 07/07/2022 | $77.31 | Go Samantha!! | Cullen Harwood | 07/03/2022 | $25.98 | I donated before Sarah Overman!! (But also, good luck!!) | Ross Bratlee | 07/03/2022 | $52.18 | Good luck, Samantha! | 06/30/2022 | $879.62 | Jennifer Richardson | 06/29/2022 | $102.98 | You are an inspiration, S! Love you! | 06/29/2022 | $88.88 | Ruthanne Baker | 06/28/2022 | $102.98 | Way to go Samantha! | Jeanice Gantus | 06/28/2022 | $308.32 | Dale Schuster | 06/27/2022 | $100.00 | Sarah Ganci | 06/27/2022 | $51.64 | ? | Kaitlin Wylie | 06/24/2022 | $102.98 | Good luck, Sam!! You're going to crush it! | Kelly Baumgartner | 06/24/2022 | $78.11 | Good luck running the marathon! | Joyce Kish | 06/24/2022 | $51.64 | Go Samantha! A wonderful cause! | Anonymous Friend | 06/24/2022 | $155.91 | Joseph Alexander | 06/24/2022 | $51.64 | Lex Kridler | 06/24/2022 | $105.03 | Rachel Kish | 06/24/2022 | $102.98 | Go kish sis!!! | Jonathan Hager | 06/23/2022 | $102.98 | Good Luck on getting to mile 26, Samantha! And thanks for raising money for such a great cause. | Sunita Perumpral | 06/23/2022 | $25.98 | Jamie Schuster | 06/23/2022 | $25.98 | Way to go Samantha! Working hard for a great cause. Show em' what's what in Chicago! | Jamie O'Brien | 06/23/2022 | $102.98 | Best of luck on the run, Samantha! You got this! Thanks for raising awareness and money for such a great cause! | Yeshika Dublish | 06/23/2022 | $50.00 | James Hutchinson | 06/23/2022 | $205.65 | Fantastic cause, best of luck with the run, I know you'll crush it! :) | David Porteous | 06/23/2022 | $51.64 | Best of luck in your run, Sam! | John Kania | 06/22/2022 | $52.18 | Good luck Samantha! Great cause! You’re going to crush it! | Caitlyn Friscia | 06/13/2022 | $51.64 | Go Sam Go! You got this! | Alexis Brockway | 06/10/2022 | $51.64 | You go, Sam!! | Glory Bergmans | 06/08/2022 | $51.64 | Good luck, Sammy Jo! You’re going to crush this marathon! | Jessica Ouwerkerk | 06/08/2022 | $51.64 | Good luck with your run, Sam! We’ll be cheering you on!! | 06/01/2022 | $252.98 | Apple | 05/31/2022 | $102.98 | Eric Ng | 05/27/2022 | $88.88 | Good luck Sam - You got this! And this is for such a great cause! | Sandra Besch | 05/13/2022 | $102.98 | Good luck Sam! You are going to do awesome, and what an amazing cause to be running for! | Anonymous Friend | 05/07/2022 | $1,027.00 | Kieran Casey | 05/05/2022 | $51.64 | Marcelo Bizantino | 05/05/2022 | $104.05 | Good luck and thank you for doing this! | Steve Di Tirro | 04/25/2022 | $52.18 | You got this! You live and train at altitude! | Alison Bowers | 04/19/2022 | $102.98 | amazing cause!! go sam go! | Annie Pogue | 04/18/2022 | $256.98 | one of my favorite marathons, happy training! if you're out in the MTV office and need a running buddy, let me know. | Lauren Koske | 04/18/2022 | $51.64 | So proud to be your friend! Love your family’s support for each other! You’re gonna kick butt on the marathon! | 04/18/2022 | $500.00 | Shawn Burdine | 04/17/2022 | $104.05 | You go girl! Miss all my JM family! Hope you are well! This is a great cause close to my heart. | Danelle DeGroodt | 04/16/2022 | $102.98 | Way to go Sam!❤️ | Kristina Healy | 04/16/2022 | $50.00 | You go girl! And you’re the best Jake! Good luck Sammi Jo! Love Kristina and Grace Healy | John Whang | 04/16/2022 | $102.98 | Matt Kuczynski | 04/16/2022 | $207.78 | Christie Morris | 04/14/2022 | $51.64 | Alisa Rising | 04/13/2022 | $51.64 | We will be cheering you on! Congrats on the Law degree Jake!! | Michael Shinbein | 04/13/2022 | $51.64 | Kelli Williamson | 04/13/2022 | $205.65 | Ryan Sawyer | 04/13/2022 | $51.64 | Ryan Fellner | 04/12/2022 | $102.98 | Thomas Hsien | 04/12/2022 | $102.98 | Kudos to you for doing this! Good luck with marathon! | Samantha Kish | 03/30/2022 | $513.66 |
| Total | $11,407.51 | ||