3rd Annual Fellowship Housing Endurance Team Results Are In!
A Beautiful Day in Long Grove
On Saturday, October 3rd, the third annual Fellowship Housing Endurance Team laced up for the Oktoberfest Half Marathon, 10K & 5K in Long Grove. The skies were clear, the air was crisp, and the energy at the start line was contagious. Every participant was a cheerleader and supporter of the hard-working, resilient single moms and children Fellowship Housing walks alongside every day. And once again, this team did not disappoint.
The Numbers
Together, the 2026 Endurance Team raised $15,624.52 for Fellowship Housing.
13 Endurance Team members
122 donors
29 first-time gifts to Fellowship Housing
$15,024.52 raised in total
Those 29 first-time gifts may be the most exciting number of all. Each one represents a new neighbor who heard about Fellowship Housing because a runner chose to share it. Adding to the momentum, Steve Long of AntiNormal Trivia stepped up to match donations during their scheduled trivia events. Their generosity turned every gift into an even bigger one and kept the excitement building right up to race day.
Thank You, Team!
A huge thank you to every runner who gave their time, their training, and their voice to this cause:
Dads for Moms Team: Charles Perry, Torance Douse, Daniel Knapp & Matthew Knapp, and Kevin Gwin. Special congratulations to Matthew, who took first place in his age group in the 10K!
Miles for Moms Team: April Gregory & Gavin Gregory, Courtney Burton, and Jennifer Anderson
Brandon Ruhl
Stu Schaff & Michael Szdlowski
Steve Long
You trained, you fundraised, you told your friends and family why empowering single moms matter, and then you crossed the finish line. We are so grateful.
In Their Own Words
Brandon Ruhl, a returning Endurance Team member, shared what this experience meant to him:
"Thank you for having me be a part of the Endurance Team again this year. I hope to participate again next year! Although the majority of the year I am active in dog rescue, being able to bring awareness to Fellowship Housing and their mission has been second to none. After telling people about what Fellowship Housing is, I have never had so many people come up to me and tell me their story or be thankful that I was supporting the organization.
One of my main points throughout fundraising was not to just donate, but at minimum read the mission and educate yourself on the support that is out there. You never know who you may be able to help. To me, that is worth more than just scanning a code to donate. Educating the people in the community that help is there for those who need it is priceless.
I appreciate all that you and everyone that is a part of Fellowship Housing does every day. I can't wait (I can, since I'm still feeling it, lol) for next year's run!"
Brandon's words capture exactly why this team matters. Every conversation a runner starts plants a seed. Someone learns that help exists, and someday they may share it with a mom who needs it.
Every Mile Counts
The funds raised by this year's team go to work immediately to empower hardworking single moms and their children build stable, self-sufficient futures.
To the runners, donors, AntiNormal Trivia, and everyone who cheered from the sidelines: thank you. You made our third year the best one yet.
Want to join us in 2027? Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or ready to tackle your first 5K, there's a place for you on the Endurance Team. Contact April Gregory at April@fhcmoms.org to get on the list for next year.
If you'd like to support hard-working single moms in our community, we invite you to do what Brandon asked: start by learning more about Fellowship Housing, then consider making a gift.
