In 2025, I started running as a way to take care of my health, clear my mind, and challenge myself in a new way. What began as a personal goal quickly became something deeper. Running has helped me heal, find strength, and reconnect with the resilience I discovered years ago during one of the hardest seasons of my life—our NICU journey.

This year, I’m taking on my biggest running challenge yet: running the Eugene Marathon on April 26, 2026, to raise awareness and funds for Project NICU, an organization that supports families of premature and critically ill babies. I’ll be donating 100% of proceeds directly to Project NICU, so every dollar raised will go toward helping families who are walking the path we once did.

Your contribution to this fundraiser will help send care packages to NICU families across the United States and provide meaningful support to the NICU staff who care for these tiny fighters every single day. These gestures of hope and comfort make a world of difference to parents navigating the uncertainty of the NICU.

Our story began when my twin boys, Maverick and Summit, were born at just 33 weeks and 1 day due to severe preeclampsia. Both spent weeks in the NICU—Summit for 38 days and Maverick for 46. Those days were filled with fear and hope, exhaustion and gratitude, but also incredible compassion from the nurses, doctors, and organizations that carried us through.

Today, Maverick and Summit are thriving 4½-year-olds, full of life and joy. We came out of our NICU experience stronger and forever changed, and I’m running to honor that journey—for every parent still sitting beside an incubator, holding tiny fingers, and praying for brighter days ahead.

Because NICU parents are strong.
We can do hard things.

If you’re a fellow NICU parent, nurse, or Project NICU supporter who would like to learn more or even join the Project NICU Running Club, please reach out to me! Let’s run for hope, for healing, and for every family still in the fight.

Thank you for your love, encouragement, and support. Together, we can make a lasting difference—one mile at a time.

Elise Sanchez

Project NICU offers connection, support and community to all involved in the NICU Journey. From NICU Care Packages, Peer Support, Graduate Programming, events and more we are here for every step of the journey. Led by NICU Parents, our programs are designed with first hand experience with support by NICU medical professionals on our advisory board to truly create an environment where families and NICU Teams can feel supported.

Stronger Because of the NICU

By Project NICU

Stronger Because of the NICU

My Marathon for a Cause