The crisp October wind whipped through Chicago as Bianca Sanchez reached mile 18 of the Chicago Marathon, her legs burning and breath ragged. But it wasn't the physical pain that brought tears to her eyes - it was the sight of her mother in the crowd, the same woman who, years earlier, had shown her what true endurance meant during two brutal bone marrow transplants.

Sisters in Stride

Beside Bianca ran her sister, their matching shirts bearing their names and a shared purpose: raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As recruitment program manager for the University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz Medical Campus, Bianca had seen both sides of the medical journey - professional and deeply personal.

Bianca Sanchez's parents, David and Ronna

"It was such a special experience to do this with my sister," Bianca reflected. "We crossed the finish line together - something probably not a lot of people can say."

From Hospital Rooms to City Streets

The seeds of this marathon journey were planted years ago in sterile hospital rooms, where Bianca and her sister watched their mother fight leukemia with quiet determination. Together, they raised over $3,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through their marathon run, driven by the belief that their efforts could make a difference.

The Journey to 26.2 Miles

Preparation began in April, with Bianca taking a methodical approach to training, understanding that endurance wasn't just about distance – “it was about time on my feet.”

Chicago showed up in force, with over a million spectators lining the course, their cheers becoming a symphony of support.

"It was such a special experience to do this with my sister. It’s one thing probably not a lot of people can say: We crossed the finish line together.”

Between miles 18 and 19, when the cheers seemed to fade against the wall of fatigue, the sisters found strength in each other. They exchanged pep talks, their shared purpose pushing them forward step by step. Seven hours after they began, the sisters crossed the finish line together, their mother there to embrace them.

“I’m definitely glad I did it and I had fun. It tested me mentally and it sucked at the end, but I finished it,” she says.

While Bianca insists she's "one and done" with marathons, her single marathon carried the weight of years of meaning. In those 26.2 miles, she and her sister transformed their mother's battle into a triumph of their own, proving that sometimes the most meaningful finish lines are the ones we cross together.