Every Monday, we celebrate the runners who have joined Team Special Children’s Charities for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
This incredible team is using their miles to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Chicago. We are so grateful for their dedication and generosity!
This week’s featured runner is Daniela Monsalve. Daniela told us about her running journey and her belief that “we are as big as our dreams.”
“I believe in a world where everyone has a place to belong, where differences are not labels that lead to stigma, but part of what makes our communities stronger. That belief is what brings me to the start line of the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, running proudly for #TeamSCC.
My name is Daniela and three years ago, I arrived in the United States for the very first time, carrying with me the dreams of so many in my country, Venezuela, and the hope of building a future that could one day give back to the people I love. Leaving Venezuela was not just a personal milestone. It was part of a much larger story. I am one of more than eight million Venezuelans who have had to leave home in search of safety, opportunity, and a future, a diaspora carrying its country in its heart no matter where life takes it. Being here is not only about chasing my own dreams; it is about building a better future for my family too.
Running has taught me resilience, discipline, and determination. Being Venezuelan has shaped that mindset, teaching me to keep moving forward even when the road is challenging. But my journey as a runner did not start as a sport. It began three years ago, in a moment of personal struggle. I was navigating anxiety and the weight of my own mental health, and I started running not to compete, but to feel alive again. To find balance. To remind myself that I would be okay as long as I kept moving forward. What started as a personal coping tool slowly became something far greater. The running community I found along the way encouraged me to dream bigger, to push further, and in 2025 I closed the year having completed five half marathons, something my earlier self would never have believed possible.
The decision to commit to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon came at a moment when I was going through an important transition in my life. From the outside, it might have looked like I had everything figured out; on the inside, I was facing doubt, change, and the need to redefine my own path. Signing up for Chicago was an act of trust: trust in myself, in my resilience, and in my conviction that something better was on the other side of the journey.
I decided to run with Special Children’s Charities because I deeply believe that children are the future and the ones who will carry forward our legacy. I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up surrounded by the love of my family and to now have nephews and nieces who bring so much joy and meaning to my life, especially my dear Paula. Even with the distance that sometimes separates us, I can still honor that love and the values my family has given me through actions like this. That experience reminds me how important it is for every child to feel supported, valued, and included.
Being part of the Chicago Marathon (my first World Marathon Major) is an exciting experience, and it’s even more meaningful to do it while supporting a cause that promotes inclusion, dignity, and opportunities. Chicago is a city I have always wanted to visit, the home of the charity I am so proud to represent, and the place where three of my closest friends will be running alongside me on race day. This race marks the beginning of a new era in my life, a celebration of how far I have come and a promise to myself about where I am going.
Through this marathon, I hope to support SCC’s mission and help create more opportunities where no one is left behind. More than a personal goal, my hope is to be an agent of change. Through my fundraising, I want to raise awareness about the importance of inclusion, dignity, and opportunity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I want to inspire other young people, especially other Latinos and members of the Venezuelan diaspora, to believe that no matter the adversities or challenges they face, the dreams they hold are within reach.
Because at the end of the day, my story is a reminder that we are as big as our dreams. All we need is to believe in ourselves and trust that with faith, mountains can be moved.”
Thank you so much to Daniela for being a part of our team! Support her effort by making a donation to her campaign today!
Read more stories from our Team SCC runners!
Marathon Monday: Daniela Monsalve
“Through this marathon, I hope to support SCC’s mission and help create more opportunities where no one is left behind.”
Marathon Monday: Grace Bright
I am proud to run for a mission that reminds people that everyone deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated.
Marathon Monday: Ron Blanchard
I am proud to run for a mission that reminds people that everyone deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated.
Marathon Monday: Bradley Aleman
My dad and I could not think of a more perfect charity to raise money for. A charity bringing health and wellness and inclusivity to children and young adults like my brother, something we strive to not take for granted every day.
Marathon Monday: Andrew Dacosta
Training for a marathon is hard. Knowing I’m running for something bigger than myself makes it worth it.
Marathon Monday: Hayley Lawson
So when I run Chicago, I’m not just running for myself. I’m running to support a mission that creates inclusion, builds confidence, and empowers people to live full, meaningful lives.
