Lisle Woman Runs 'Own' Chicago Marathon To Aid Children

LISLE, IL — The Chicago Marathon may have been canceled, but Kelly Smith ran it anyway, dashing past improvised Chicago landmarks that her family set up along her route throughout Lisle and neighboring suburbs.

Smith didn't make the lottery for the Chicago Marathon, but was able to run for charity. Smith's virtual marathon raised over $10,000 for Smile Train, the world's largest cleft charity, which provides local medical professionals with the training and resources to provide cleft surgery to children globally. The charity is a near and dear one for Smith, who was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate.

Smith told Patch she started out with a goal of raising $1750, but quickly found herself having to raise the goal to keep up with donations. She hit her goal within two days of sharing it with family and friends. Smith then shared her goal with her employer and found the donations quickly doubling.

Smith says she's thankful for social media for helping the donations grow exponentially.

She's also grateful for her family, who helped cheer her along at different "Chicago landmarks" they set up along her marathon route. At each "landmark," Smith's family dressed in matching duds, holding fans to signify Chinatown and wearing jerseys to mark a miniature "Soldier Field."

The cause for which Smith ran, along with her family's inventive stops, helped make it her "own marathon," Smith told Patch.

She said, "MY Chicago Marathon is one that I will never forget."