October 30, 2026

What Team U2FP Racers Accomplished This Year

Lucia Webb

Congratulations to our Team U2FP racers on a blockbuster year - we had the highest ever number of participants, the highest ever number of wheelers, and the highest ever fundraising total! I am equally proud of all of those achievements. And when you break it down, the numbers become even more meaningful. 
 

We had ourselves a good time! Some of our racers joined us after the Twin Cities Marathon to celebrate race day. Front row, from left: Mason Branstrator, Alex McKiernan, Quinn Brett, Jared Potter, Emma Paden, Jason Stoffer. Back row: Matthew Rodreick & Kristin Rodreick Wilson.

Having more participants in our race events (Green River Marathon, Twin Cities Marathon and 10 Mile, and Chicago Marathon) means that there are more people out there talking and learning about our work.

Racers who join our team learn about Unite 2 Fight Paralysis so that they can make a genuine ask to their friends and family for donations. Throughout the course of training, we host virtual happy hours where our staff who live with this injury chat about what it means to have an SCI, and what it means to be a nonprofit working towards cures.

I’ve written before about the efforts toward inclusion in the Twin Cities Marathon (here) and I am so proud that we continue to grow the number of non-traditional racing chair users in that race. 
 

Jake Anderson (left) and his brother Zach (center) ride by their mom, Lisa and dad, Mark. Jake and his family have raced with and supported Team U2FP for years via their collective of family and friends, dubbed Team JandyStrong!

The support from the race organizers has only increased as they see how special and important it is to actually make room for people with all types of mobility needs. As I cheered on the race from our booth on the Mission Mile, it was amazing to hear noise levels peak every time a wheeler zoomed by.

And then there’s the record breaking fundraising: we couldn’t be more stoked to have met and exceeded our goal of $110,000. You all have generously listened to us talk about financial squeezes in the past - but there is something even more meaningful to this number. When I get the chance to meet with racers after the event, I always stress how honored I feel that they placed their trust in us. 
 

Chicago racers and supporters gathered for a rooftop party after the race on October 11th.

Many racers, particularly those in Chicago, don’t know anyone with an SCI. But they chose to put their name behind ours and share our message and request for donations to their social networks. Many of them sent me personal notes expressing their appreciation at how well organized and professional we were, and how they’ve learned so much about SCI in the process. 

Their friends and family donated to us and are now part of a growing community leveraging small donations for a big impact. Team U2FP fundraising efforts (which primarily support our legislative work) have, to date, helped leverage $83,000,000 towards SCI functional recovery research!

This message is just another way for U2FP to say THANK YOU to our 2026 Team U2FP racers, while letting those of you in our wider network know how critical these individuals are to our success. 

Thanks!
 

PS - it’s never too early to start thinking about racing in 2027… Chicago registration is already open, and Twin Cities registration opens in March! Just email me at marathon@u2fp.org if you're interested or have any questions.