Team ALF Chicago Marathon runners unite to fight liver disease
CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — American Liver Foundation (ALF) is proud to once again be among the more than 200 non-profits participating as a member of the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Official Charity Program this Sunday, October 11. 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 educate, engage, and inspire as we shine a spotlight on the urgent need for liver disease prevention, research, and patient support.
Nashua, New Hampshire resident 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.”
Chicago resident 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 primary sclerosing cholangitis, 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 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon team is working hard to reach their fundraising goal. All funds raised will go towards ALF’s mission to support those affected by liver disease. 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.
Other members of ALF’s 43-member team include:
- Kathleen Doyen: Running the Chicago Marathon for the 1st 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: Running for the 3rd 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: Running for the 1st time in honor of her husband who was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (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 1st 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 1st time to honor his father who was diagnosed with a rare liver disease. He is also a new ALF board member.
- Amanda Neal: Running for the 1st 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, MD: Running for the 1st 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.
About the American Liver Foundation
American Liver Foundation (ALF) is a national community of patients, caregivers and medical professionals dedicated to helping people improve their liver health. Providing guidance and life-saving resources, we are a beacon for the 100 million Americans affected by liver disease. We advocate for patients and families, fund medical research, and educate the public about liver wellness and disease prevention. We bring people together through our educational programs and events and create a network of support that lasts a lifetime. ALF is the largest organization focused on all liver diseases and the trusted voice for patients and families living with liver disease. Celebrating 50 years of impact, leading the next 50 years forward. For more information, please visit www.liverfoundation.org or call: 1.800.GO.LIVER (800-465-4837).
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Media Contacts:
Julie Kimbrough
JKimbrough@liverfoundation.org
Direct dial: 646-737-9409
Karla Thomas
kthomas@liverfoundation.org
Direct dial: 773-575-9477
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SOURCE American Liver Foundation
