Natalie Wilson
5  year  Mo Sister
platinum club

$5,720

Target: $6,000
raised $8,750 since 2019
My motivation
Fundraising for cause areas including:
Mental health and suicide prevention

Hi Everyone,

I’m running Chicago marathon in October this year, 42.2km in the windy city, on the other side of the world and my first world major. It will be 12 years since I've run a full marathon which means I'm 12 years older and it's going to be 12 years harder.

I had planned to run Chicago last year after one of my closest friends, Karen, enticed me to do so. The universe however had other ideas; my Mum was gravely ill for most of the year, in and out of hospital, and we regrettably had to move her into aged care and sell her home. All this took a considerable emotional and physical toll on me, and I had to ask myself whether running a marathon was the priority. As if to affirm my thinking, the universe proceeded to serve me up a nice dose of pneumonia during training. You'd think that would be sufficient but at the same time, Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Karen is quite simply the reason I run; I wasn't always this crazy. Karen got me into running almost 20 years ago, so when she asked me if I'd do Chicago Marathon with her, there was only one response. Thankfully, after an epic battle, a number of surgeries, and most notably, her fortitude, Karen is on the road to recovery with a 2025 deferred entry in hand. So, between my beloved Mum-may she rest in peace, pneumonia and Karen's diagnosis, Chicago 2024 was out and Chicago 2025 it is!

Whilst this conquest has been challenging already for all the wrong reasons, it's important to me that doing this is more impactful than just me running a really long way, a really long way away. A charity that is close to my heart, Movember has kindly approved my application to run as part of their official Chicago Marathon team this year. There are 35 team members in total, and I am the sole representative from the Southern Hemisphere! To support this outstanding charity, my aim is to raise $5,000 to promote men's health and suicide prevention. Not only is this a worthy cause but will provide me with additional motivation throughout training and on race day to know that every kilometre under my belt is in support of all men but also those who are dear to us. In my profile pics, on my MoSpace, I've featured just a handful of the men in my life, whom I truly cherish.

I lost two close work colleagues in recent years and this fuelled my advocacy for Movember and the important work they do. Mark and Justin were genuinely lovely people, caring, affable, intelligent, well-respected, passionate about what they did and leaders in their respective fields. The world is honestly a lesser place without them. As a result, it's a no-brainer for me to use any excuse to prevent this from happening again and to support men's health generally. If that means running 42.2km, then let's go!

Thank you for reading this far and I would greatly appreciate your support to help me reach my fundraising goal; to give me additional motivation to get to both the start and the finish lines but more importantly to show your support for Movember, men's health and suicide prevention. Together we can make a difference.

0 of 42 kilometres
running
I'm running Chicago Marathon this October and I'm aiming to raise $88/km for Movember.
Your feed

Leave Natalie a comment
 

1 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Marc Kefford
$35

Good luck Natalie! Such a good cause.

1 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Marc Kefford
$35

Good luck Natalie! Such a good cause.

1 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Larissa Hughes
$20

Go you good thing!

1 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Larissa Hughes
$20

Go you good thing!

1 day(s) ago
Donation from:
James Reynolds
$35

Go Natalie, you’ll smash the Marathon and do an amazing cause.

1 day(s) ago
Donation from:
James Reynolds
$35

Go Natalie, you’ll smash the Marathon and do an amazing cause.

1 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Joel Abrahamsohn
$100

Hey Nat, my very best wishes for a wonderful and successful race!
Warmest regards, Joel

1 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Joel Abrahamsohn
$100

Hey Nat, my very best wishes for a wonderful and successful race!
Warmest regards, Joel

3 day(s) ago
Donation from:
an anonymous supporter
$100

Fantastic effort Nat! Love it.

3 day(s) ago
Donation from:
an anonymous supporter
$100

Fantastic effort Nat! Love it.

3 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Amy Cotterell
$35

Good luck Natalie!

3 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Amy Cotterell
$35

Good luck Natalie!

3 day(s) ago
Donation from:
an anonymous supporter
$35

All the best Natalie!!

3 day(s) ago
Donation from:
an anonymous supporter
$35

All the best Natalie!!

4 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Qijing Yang
$250

Best luck to your run in Chicago.

4 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Qijing Yang
$250

Best luck to your run in Chicago.

5 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Nikita Wade
$100

Sending healing vibes for the injury, grit vibes for the race and enjoyment vibes for the celebration when it’s all done and dusted!

5 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Nikita Wade
$100

Sending healing vibes for the injury, grit vibes for the race and enjoyment vibes for the celebration when it’s all done and dusted!

5 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Janice Poon
$30

such a good cause! go you!!

5 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Janice Poon
$30

such a good cause! go you!!

5 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Jennifer Payne
$65

Wishing you every success in the Chicago Marathon Nat, you are an inspiration to others.

5 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Jennifer Payne
$65

Wishing you every success in the Chicago Marathon Nat, you are an inspiration to others.

5 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Sarah Shaw
$65

We are so proud of your dedication not only to your preparation and wonderful achievements with fundraising but also your ability to overcome the various hurdles that have occurred on your path to Chicago.
If you listen carefully, hopefully, you will hear me cheering all the way from home xxx

5 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Sarah Shaw
$65

We are so proud of your dedication not only to your preparation and wonderful achievements with fundraising but also your ability to overcome the various hurdles that have occurred on your path to Chicago.
If you listen carefully, hopefully, you will hear me cheering all the way from home xxx

5 day(s) ago
Donation from:
ADRIENNE MCGOVERN
$20

Good luck Nat. Enjoy the major marathon. And well done on your fundraising.

5 day(s) ago
Donation from:
ADRIENNE MCGOVERN
$20

Good luck Nat. Enjoy the major marathon. And well done on your fundraising.

6 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Iain Hespe
$100

Go well, enjoy the run and the city.

6 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Iain Hespe
$100

Go well, enjoy the run and the city.

6 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Kumar Kaushal Bariar
$100

All the best for your Chicago Marathon, great initiative

6 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Kumar Kaushal Bariar
$100

All the best for your Chicago Marathon, great initiative

1 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Facebook Fundraising
$25
1 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Facebook Fundraising
$25
2 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Greg Riordan
$100

have a good run

2 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Greg Riordan
$100

have a good run

2 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
DANIEL WRIGHT
$100

Hey Nat. Have a great time for the great cause! and have a deep dish pizza for me whilst you're there!!

2 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
DANIEL WRIGHT
$100

Hey Nat. Have a great time for the great cause! and have a deep dish pizza for me whilst you're there!!

2 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Nandani Shankar
$50

Good Luck Nat!

2 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Nandani Shankar
$50

Good Luck Nat!

2 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Chris Dawe
$65

A great cause, and you finally get to run Chicago!

2 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Chris Dawe
$65

A great cause, and you finally get to run Chicago!

Previous year's activities
147 Week(s) Ago
I walked 5.05 km01:18:45

147 Week(s) Ago
I ran 5.01 km00:25:50

147 Week(s) Ago
I walked 7.89 km01:52:21

147 Week(s) Ago
I ran 4.11 km00:31:19

148 Week(s) Ago
I ran 8.08 km01:02:49

148 Week(s) Ago
I worked out 01:11:17

148 Week(s) Ago
I ran 4.88 km00:32:13

148 Week(s) Ago
I walked 6.42 km01:29:24

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