Our Collective Stories

Merry Wilbert is the type of person who thrives when she’s forming meaningful connections with those around her. She's a real "people person" who exudes the kind of friendliness you’d anticipate from someone born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In her daily life, Merry surrounds herself with the things she loves: her husband, her two cats, her two dogs—and her passion for running, which became the foundation for her physical and mental health journey.

Since Madai was a teenager, she has been tired of the stigma around mental health. Starting from a young age, she dealt with feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. She felt isolated by cultural norms placed on her by her Hispanic heritage and was constantly told, "You're just a kid, what do you have to be depressed about?"

Prior to spine surgery in 2014, pain management was an overwhelming daily battle for Jaime. Running became more than an athletic pursuit for Jaime—it became medicine, purpose, a vehicle for philanthropy, and ultimately, a platform for change.