Ex-elite runner turned nun raises $2.6M in Chicago Marathon for families

Sister Stephanie Baliga once dreamed of becoming an elite athlete. Today, the former Division I runner is using that same passion for running to help feed families and senior citizens in her Chicago community.For the past 15 years, Baliga has taken part in the Chicago Marathon as part of the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels (MOLA) charity team. According to MOLA, the marathon team has raised more than $2.6 million between 2011 and 2025, helping support the organisation’s food pantry and community services.This fall, Baliga and nearly 200 members of Team OLA are expected to return for the 16th consecutive Chicago Marathon, with a fundraising goal of $500,000.Sister Stephanie’s journey from running to religious lifeBaliga began running when she was nine years old, and the sport quickly became central to her identity.“I started running when I was 9, and running became my life,” she told WTTW.