O Liver Life Challenge da ALF é o parceiro oficial de caridade da Maratona de Chicago do Bank of America de 2026

Fundação Americana do Fígado (ALF) is proud to once again be among the more than 200 non-profits participating as a member of the 2026 Programa de caridade oficial da Maratona de Chicago do Bank of America esse Domingo, 11 de outubro. This 26.2-mile elite road race through Chicago is considered one of the fastest marathons in the world and it begins in iconic Grant Park.

“As thousands prepare to run in this single-loop course, ALF is honored to be an official charity partner for the upcoming Bank of America Chicago Marathon once again and to have a dedicated team of runners helping to raise awareness regarding liver disease as they run through the vibrant streets of Chicago,” said Lorraine Stiehl, Chief Executive Officer, American Liver Foundation.

Liver Life Challenge is ALF’s official endurance program where dedicated athletes across the country join Team ALF to use their passion and commitment to go that extra mile in honor of a loved one and on behalf of  the liver community. The Chicago Marathon is the ultimate achievement for elite athletes and everyday runners. For ALF, this marathon is not only a celebration of endurance but a powerful platform to educar, engajar e inspirar as we shine a spotlight on the urgent need for prevenção de doenças hepáticas, pesquisa, e suporte ao paciente.

Nashua, New Hampshire residente Jim O'Connell, is the 2026 ALF Team Captain who runs in honor of his late father. Jim has committed himself to doing something positive in honor of his dad, so he ran the Boston Marathon with ALF for 10 years, and this is his second year running in the Chicago Marathon. Jim said “We lost my dad to liver cancer at far too young an age and it impacted our family greatly as that loss is still felt today. He was an amazing friend to so many, and an even better Dad we still miss very much. I have met so many amazing people through ALF with similar stories to mine, but also people who have lived with liver disease, doctors and nurses who know about liver disease all too well, and even liver transplant recipients who are not only thriving - but have run alongside me! It's all just so inspiring, so continuing to raise money to benefit ALF is deeply important to me.”

Morador de Chicago Sydney Flakus-Witte works in research at the University of Chicago where she explores gut microbiomes and its impact on liver health. She stated: “This is the second year I’m running in the Chicago Marathon in honor of my husband who was diagnosed seven years ago with Colangite esclerosante primária, a rare autoimmune liver condition, that currently has no approved therapies to slow its progression.Watching him navigate this journey is a constant reminder that we need new scientific understandings to address these underlying problems. I am running to help fund the research that will one day provide better answers for families like mine."

ALF's Equipe da Maratona de Chicago do Bank of America de 2026 is working hard to reach their fundraising goal. All funds raised will go towards ALF’s mission to support those affected by doença hepática. Team ALF is made up of runners with varying levels of experience from novice to advanced, most of whom have a connection to liver disease.

Outros membros da equipe de 43 membros da ALF incluem:  

• Kathleen Doyen: Running the Chicago Marathon for the 1^st time in honor of her mother, ALF board member, Anne Doyen, who is a liver transplant recipient because Kathleen was a match and became her mom’s living liver donor.  
• Michael Doyen: Correndo para o 3^rd time in the Chicago Marathon in honor of his wife and ALF board member, Anne Doyen, who is a liver transplant recipient. Their daughter, Kathleen, was her living liver donor.
• Madelyn Dulin: Correndo para o 1^st time in honor of her husband who was diagnosed with colangite esclerosante primária (PSC) when he was 18. In 2021, while they were both in medical school, he received a liver transplant. Now they are both working as resident physicians where he received his transplant.
• Megan Hoffman:Running for the 1^st time in honor of her patients and their strength as well as to give back to the liver community that inspires her every day as a liver transplant social worker at The University of Chicago. She witnesses the courage it takes to face liver disease, the resilience required to undergo transplant, and the strength it takes to rebuild your life after the transplant.
• Alex Kerr, Running the Chicago Marathon for  the 1^st time to honor his father who was diagnosed with a rare liver disease. He is also a new ALF board member.
• Amanda Neal: Correndo para o 1^st time in honor of a child named Beckett who she donated a part of her liver to as a living liver donor. She said It was the most meaningful decision of her life and it changed how she thinks about health, generosity, and the power of people rallying together to save a life.
• Marina Silveira: Correndo para o 1^st time to honor all of her patients living with liver disease. She is a  hepatologist with a special interest in autoimmune and cholestatic liver diseases at the Yale School of Medicine.
• Alex Whiteaker: Running in memory of his father and for all the miles he can no longer put under his feet as he passed away in 2007 while waiting for a second transplant. After receiving his first transplant in 1996, Alex's dad dedicated his new life to fitness and bettering himself every day. Alex's dad went on to run the NYC Marathon twice and competed in many World Transplant Games.

Learn more about ALF’s 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon team at Home - Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2026.

Sobre a American Liver Foundation

A American Liver Foundation (ALF) é uma comunidade nacional de pacientes, cuidadores e profissionais da saúde dedicada a ajudar as pessoas a melhorarem a saúde do fígado. Fornecendo orientação e recursos que salvam vidas, somos um farol para os 100 milhões de americanos afetados por doenças hepáticas. Defendemos os pacientes e suas famílias, financiamos pesquisas médicas e educamos o público sobre o bem-estar do fígado e a prevenção de doenças. Unimos pessoas por meio de nossos programas e eventos educacionais e criamos uma rede de apoio que dura a vida toda. A ALF é a maior organização focada em todas as doenças hepáticas e a voz confiável para pacientes e familiares que convivem com doenças do fígado. Celebrando 50 anos de impacto, liderando os próximos 50 anos. Para mais informações, visite www.liverfoundation.org ou ligue para 1.800.GO.LIVER (800-465-4837).