Help Andrew raise money

My $10,000 Double Marathon Challenge: Run for Asian Mental Health

Hello friends, family, colleagues, and compassionate strangers!

I'm taking on a challenge that's a little bit bonkers: running two full marathons in two weeks—the Chicago Marathon, immediately followed by the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 19.

Last year, I ran the Chicago Marathon and then the Toronto Half-Marathon a week later with shin splints in both legs. This year, I'm upping the ante (and the pain threshold) to a full marathon because the need is that urgent.

Here's My Why

As the Executive Director of Hong Fook Mental Health Association, I see how our organization changes lives on the daily. But my dedication is also deeply personal.

My family, like many in the Asian community, has direct lived experience with mental illness. When a family member was diagnosed with schizophrenia, we struggled to find culturally safe care. We didn't have access to care in Korean or with someone who understood the unique challenges and taboos we faced. It doesn’t have to be this way for families like mine today or in the future. 

Why Hong Fook Matters Now More Than Ever

Hong Fook provides essential mental health services in five different East and Southeast Asian languages, creating a space where clients and their families feel heard, understood, and safe. From youth to seniors, we journey with more than 10,000 individuals and families by offering supportive housing, therapy, recovery programs, community education and case management. 

Right now, our services are needed more than ever. For reasons rooted in cultural differences and how society continues to view Asians as a “quiet” people without systemic barriers, this myth has tragically silenced those who are struggling with mental health, resulting in a large gap in care and worse health outcomes, including over-representation in the emergency department for mental health crises. 

Join My $10,000 Mission

My goal is to raise $10,000 to ensure Hong Fook can continue to offer these life-changing—and often life-saving—services. kilometre run and every dollar raised will directly support a family like mine that deserves care that speaks their language and understands how bring care to them and their families. 

To help kick things off, I am pledging to match up to $1,000 in contributions!

Please, support my wild double-marathon challenge and help Hong Fook deliver culturally safe, essential care to our Asian communities.
Your donation is an investment in a future where no one is left to struggle alone.

Thank you for running this journey with me!