Justine is a registered organ donor, and daughter of a transplant recipient. 

After years on the waitlist, Justine’s dad received a lifesaving liver transplant in 2002 at the University of Michigan Hospital. The transplant was successful, but he suffered severe complications, and his road to recovery included over 4 months in the ICU. 

In 2011, as an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan, Justine presented a proposal to the House Special Commission to change current state law from "opt-in" to "opt-out" organ donation to allow more people a second chance at life. 

Justine’s family knew the medicine that kept her dad’s liver healthy would adversely affect his kidneys. In 2024, her dad began dialysis, and is currently undergoing testing for a kidney transplant. Despite it all, he still looks at life with the glass more than half full. 

Organ donation has given Justine’s family the greatest gift - time with their beloved hero. She is proud to fundraise, advocate, and run through her hometown for CKF!

Mike met the CKF team at the NYC Marathon Expo in 2023. Since then, he donated his kidney to a stranger, in order to help save the life of his friend, Scott. Saving 2 lives was a big bonus for Mike!

Being a living kidney donor has been an incredibly positive experience for Mike, and he has become a huge advocate for living organ donation.

In 2024, he helped crew for LiverMan, a backyard triathlon, hosted by Ian Pauley, a member of the 2024 CKF Run Team, in honor of Ian’s 7th liver anniversary. Mike also ran NYC the same year as part of Team CKF.

On March 14 this year, Mike celebrated his one year anniversary for donating his kidney, and to celebrate, he began the screening process for living liver donation.

Mike hopes to be racing with CKF as a double donor in the very near future!

Kim has always believed in organ and tissue donation, but over the past year, it has become personal for her.

Kim has gotten to know Mike Culley, and his friend, Scott, for whom Mike donated a kidney.  She also had the pleasure of meeting the recipient of Mike's kidney. The recipient and her family talked about the impact receiving a kidney has had on their lives. For Kim, it was truly a humbling conversation to be a part of.  

Kim has volunteered with Mike at various organ donation events, and attended educational events about donation. All of these experiences have brought her face to face with the very real impact organ and tissue donation has on the lives of the recipients and donors.

As a result, Kim wanted to get more involved with CKF, and using her running to raise money seems like a natural fit.

William lives in NYC, and is running in memory of his close childhood friend, Alex Peabody, who received a heart and lung transplant in high school when they were in Grosse Point, MI. 

Alex was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in elementary school,. Throughout middle and early high school, Alex loved to ride his bike, play instruments, and maintain a saltwater aquarium. In high school, his condition worsened, requiring him to be airlifted from Detroit to Pittsburgh. Over the span of 5 months, he was in UPMC waiting for a heart and lung donor. 

William was lucky enough to visit Alex a couple times. After receiving his transplant, Alex returned to Michigan and school, participating in the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra, and picking up road cycling. 

Alex passed away a year and a half after his transplant. For William, seeing someone in organ failure get another opportunity to pursue their passions (music and cycling) was eye opening. It feels fitting to run for CKF, and help raise awareness and support the cause, as the opportunity to give life is a beautiful thing.

Maddie Mintz is from Atlanta, but lives in NYC. Growing up, competitive sports were vital to her life. However, she swore she was not a long distance runner, nor wanted to be one. 

In 2022, Maddie watched her first NYC Marathon. Inspired by the runners taking on this challenging feat, she was moved by the city, and how people from across all 5 boroughs came out to cheer on strangers.

Maddie decided to run NYC in 2024, even though she had never ran more than 5 miles. The journey was challenging, but one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. She raised money for Classroom Champions, a non-profit organization that empowers children.

Having close family friends who have undergone organ transplants, CKF is a cause that resonates deeply with her, having witnessed the positive impact of donation and transplantation. Running on behalf of CKF in a city that means so much to her, Maddie aims to spread awareness and raise funds, hoping to help save lives and inspire others.

In 2020, Michelle donated her left kidney in a non-directed donation to a complete stranger. 

Passionate about spreading awareness for organ donation, Michelle volunteers with the Nevada Donor Network, and has been successful fundraising for them. Additionally, she raised $5,000 for the American Cancer Society for the first annual Fork Cancer Las Vegas.

After her donation surgery in 2020, Michelle discovered her love for long distance running. An athlete her entire life, she has played 8 different sports since she was old enough to walk. Endurance was always her downfall, so she created a narrative in her head that she just was not "built" for running- until she actually tried.

Michelle has learned what she is capable of in the 5 years since lacing up her running shoes for the first time. She is looking forward to running the NYC marathon as a living kidney donor to spread awareness about organ donation, and the mission of CKF.

Reed is 22 years old, and currently works in Product Management in Denver, CO. He ran his first half marathon in 2023, and completed his first full in 2024. He is excited to run the NYC Marathon in 2025 with CKF as this opportunity combines his passion for running with raising awareness for an important cause.

During college, Reed’s studies included the American healthcare system and organ transplantation. Much of his research revolved around the challenges of organ transplant waitlists, and the psychological factors affecting donor participation, especially in relation to "opt-in vs. opt-out" systems.

Reed is inspired with how Chris was able to use his athletic success and the international Olympic stage to raise awareness for organ donation, and encourage more people to register.

Although Reed may not be an Olympic athlete, the NYC Marathon offers a powerful platform to amplify the mission of CKF. He hopes to bring visibility to organ donation, and encourage others to get involved.

Michelle wants to raise awareness for the life-changing power of organ and tissue donation. A single act of generosity can give someone not just more time—but a future.

Michelle’s mother-in-law, Mary Grace Yarborough, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1986. After undergoing intensive treatment, she was declared in remission. But it returned, testing her. Mary Grace fought, determined to live for her loved ones. 

After another remission, polycystic kidney disease surged forward, leading to renal failure. Weekly dialysis treatments became Mary Grace’s lifeline, but they were only a temporary solution. What she needed was a new kidney. Her daughter, Mandy, was a perfect match. Mandy stepped forward to give her mother the greatest gift possible. The transplant was a success—not just for Mary Grace, but for their entire family. Free from dialysis, she embraced life with renewed energy, cherishing each moment. 

That kidney wasn’t just an organ; it was freedom, love, and a second chance.

Teagan is a living kidney donor who altruistically donated her kidney to a stranger in 2021, starting a small donation chain. 

Through the donation process, Teagan interacted with living donors and kidney recipients, and helped spread the word about living kidney donation. She is now writing her master's thesis on the ethics and policy implications of permitting additional financial rewards to living kidney donors. 

Teagan started running AFTER donating her kidney, inspired by the amazing stories she heard that motivated her through her donation. She is eager to share her story, and show people what living kidney donors are capable of, while also raising money for CKF. 

Teagan has a personal connection to CKF as she grew up in Aspen, CO, and graduated from Aspen High School. She was a family friend of the Klugs, and as a teenager, saw first hand what donation means. This early exposure planted the seed for everything that came afterward, and it is a dream come true to be able to give back.