Bereaved Runners Completed the Chicago Marathon
Twenty-five family members traveled from Israel to run in honor of their loved ones.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Running
Twenty-five bereaved family members and runners from the organization OneFamily participated in the Chicago Marathon to honor fallen loved ones. The team traveled to the city following five months of rigorous group training.
Why it matters
The participants sought to demonstrate the process of moving forward while actively preserving the memory of those lost. The team specifically timed their arrival to Chicago for October 7 to mark the third anniversary of the terror attack in Israel.
The team covered the full 42.2-kilometer course after completing five months of dedicated training. The group included family members of those lost in recent conflicts, such as 22-year-old Yogev Pazi, who died in November 2024.
The players
OneFamily
This organization supports victims of terror attacks in Israel and their families through various communal and emotional recovery programs.
Yogev Pazi
He was a 22-year-old soldier who died while serving in battle in northern Gaza in November 2024.
The details
The runners engaged in long-distance sessions and shared personal stories of loss to provide mutual encouragement throughout their preparation. This journey served as a collective effort to bridge the gap between processing personal grief and engaging in athletic endurance.
Timeline
November 2024: Yogev Pazi died in battle in northern Gaza.
Five months before October 2026: Marathon training preparations began.
October 7, 2026: The team flew from Israel to Chicago.
October 11, 2026: The Chicago Marathon took place.
Season Trajectory
This effort represents a significant emotional milestone for the OneFamily group within their broader recovery schedule. Their participation adds a layer of humanitarian focus to the Chicago Marathon, contrasting with the purely performance-oriented goals of elite professional entrants.
The involvement of 25 international runners highlights the global reach and emotional gravity that major urban marathons like Chicago can hold for participants. This commitment demonstrates how individual runners integrate personal narrative and tragedy into the established 42.2-kilometer race structure.
The takeaway
Engaging in a long-term goal like a marathon can provide a structured way for individuals to process grief while building community. Finding a physical outlet allows those facing tragedy to share their burden with others who have endured similar losses.
Further reading
Learn more about the local endurance community at Running.
