There’s something a little strange about marathon morning in Chicago. The city is still waking up, but thousands of runners are already making their way downtown. It’s still dark, but the streets are packed. Spectators are saving their spots. And somewhere around the city, a very large number of people are wondering why they voluntarily signed up to run 26.2 miles…
For the Bring Magic Charity Team, there was a little more behind the long run.
Our 115 runners took on the 2026 Chicago Marathon to raise funds for kids in hospitals, bringing months of training, fundraising and determination to the starting line. And they weren’t doing it alone.
Everyone has their own reason for running a marathon.
Maybe they’ve spent time in a children’s hospital. Maybe they know a family who has. Maybe they wanted their first marathon to support something bigger than a finish time. Whatever brought our runners to the starting line, they became part of something bigger on race day.
Every mile helped raise funds to support Bring Magic’s work bringing trained Volunteer Specialists into children’s hospitals and creating moments of laughter, surprise and connection for kids and families.
After months of training and fundraising, race day eventually comes down to one thing: keep going!
Our Charity Team made it to the finish line with support from their families, friends, fellow runners and our amazing Road Crew. We’re proud of everyone who ran, donated, cheered, shared a fundraiser or helped make the weekend happen.
The Chicago Marathon was one day. The impact goes much farther.
And this is just the beginning. Bring Magic. More runners, more races, more cities and, of course, more magic.
26.2 miles is a long way to run. But with a team behind you, it goes a little farther. And yes, we’re already thinking about the next one!
Get emails on events, mission updates, frontline stories, and all the ways to get involved and bring magic to kids in hospitals.
Can We Do This? #03: Volunteering
