Jessica Busch & Gareth Grossnickle
 Age: Jessica (27), Gareth (26)
Occupation/title/what you do: Jessica is the Special Events
Manager at PAWS Chicago, and Gareth is an Analyst with Duff & Phelps.
What motivated you to join the PAWS Chicago
Marathon team? There is nothing more inspiring than achieving an
athletic dream, and nothing more rewarding than doing it for a cause you believe
wholeheartedly in. We are running for our PAWS pup, Murphy (in the photo to the
right – he volunteered with us at the Cinco De Mayo parade!). He brings us so
much laughter, happiness and frustration :) We have only had him for a few
months and we cannot imagine life without the goofy little guy!Is this your first marathon?
This will be Jessica’s second marathon and Gareth’s first one!
On mile 20, what will you think of to keep
going?
Murphy will be at the finish line waiting for us with our families. This journey
has been about saving thousands of little pups just like Murphy who – through no
fault of their own – end up at the pound and never find a forever family. Every
animal deserves a loving home. We are running to make PAWS Chicago’s vision of a
No Kill Chicago a reality.
What obstacles/fears/challenges are you
overcoming by running the marathon? Our new ability (beginning
June 14) to wake up in time for 6 a.m. training runs!
Why PAWS Chicago? Since
PAWS Chicago’s founding ten years ago, the number of homeless pets killed year
has dropped from more than 42,000 to less than 19,000. PAWS Chicago’s
comprehensive approach to making Chicago a No Kill city is working. With their
free and low cost Lurie Family Spay/Neuter Clinic, aggressive Community Outreach
in the neighborhoods where the pet overpopulation is the worst, and their brand
new, cagless, state-of-the-art Adoption Center, PAWS Chicago is changing the
face of Animal Welfare in Chicago and across the country.
How did you find out about the PAWS Chicago
Marathon Team? Murphy and his best friends (Dax, Emma,
Lady, Wrigley, Rania and Payton – all PAWS alums) told us that PAWS Chicago had
a team this year and convinced us to run in their honor! (wink)
To support
Jessica & Gareth's marathon quest, click here.
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