Wendy Silver

For Wendy, running started as a way to connect — she joined the Howard County Striders to meet new friends and found so much more in the process. “Training for races with new friends, and the feeling of accomplishment after crossing the finish line — that’s what keeps me going,” she shared.

Her must-have for every run? Sunglasses. And her advice to new runners is just as practical as it is encouraging: “Have goals, stick with them, and grab a friend. Start with a walk/run series to build up to running, and you’ll be amazed how great you’ll feel.”

Wendy’s connection to the Casey Cares Foundation is deeply personal. In 2007, her son was diagnosed with leukemia. It was a nurse at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center who first told them about Casey Cares’ programs.

“We decided to participate because Casey Cares offers activities for the entire family — and that was so important to us,” Wendy said. “Cancer doesn’t just affect the child, it affects the whole family. We wanted to feel like a family again and do normal, fun activities together. That’s exactly what Casey Cares gave us.”

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