"Every mile I run is for them"

Thanks to Jodi Clement for sharing her story with us! Jodi is running the 2026 Chicago Marathon with Team Kidney! Cheer her on here.

Want to share your own story? Fill out the form here.

I’m running my first-ever marathon this year—the Chicago Marathon—with Team Kidney. But for me, this race is about so much more than 26.2 miles.

Just under two years ago (July 2024), my father received a life-saving kidney transplant. Before that, our lives revolved around dialysis—three days a week, three hours at a time. I watched him grow weaker, more unsteady, and increasingly exhausted. But even in his hardest moments, he never stopped fighting. He held onto hope for a second chance.

When we first went through the transplant evaluation process at Mass General, he was denied. He was simply too fragile at the time. That was a devastating setback—but not the end of his story. He committed to physical therapy, worked relentlessly to rebuild his strength, and a year later, he went back. This time, he was approved.

Then something incredible happened—he received a kidney. A rare and extraordinary gift that changed everything for our family.

Today, I’m running not only for my dad and the second chance he was given, but for the thousands of people still battling kidney disease. For those spending hours each week on dialysis. For those waiting—sometimes for years—on the transplant list, hoping that one day their call will come.

Running this marathon is my way of honoring that fight, raising awareness, and supporting the mission to give more people the chance at life that my dad received.

Every mile I run is for them.