We’re excited to welcome Team Resilience – Continuing Kim’s Fight from Windy City Wire as a first-time team this year! Here’s why they’re walking and running…

For 24 and a half years, Kimberly DePaola, was a beloved part of the Windy City Wire family. She wasn’t just a colleague – she became a true friend, she became family, she was a steady presence, and someone who left a meaningful mark on all of us lucky enough to know her. Kimberly was the kind of person who made everything better – through her work, her laughter, her loyalty, and the way she simply cared. She gave her best every day, not because she had to, but because that’s just who she was.

Outside of work, she was a loving wife and a devoted mother – roles she carried with pride and joy. She had a deep love for the simple, beautiful parts of life: sipping a glass of white wine, watching anything housewives, going for a run, and spending time with her foster-dogs, she did it all with heart.

Kimberly’s fight with leukemia was nothing short of courageous and inspiring. Even in the face of the hardest days, she held onto grace, humor, and strength and prioritized everybody else above her own needs. She inspired us – not just with how she battled, but with how she lived.

Her legacy at Windy City Wire and in our lives is one of impact, dedication, and kindness. But more than anything, her memory lives on in the lives she touched, the friendships she built, and the love she gave so freely.

We miss her deeply, but we will carry her spirit with us … always.

We run to honor Kimberly and to raise funds to help fund groundbreaking research and provide critical support to leukemia patients and their families. Every dollar makes a difference. Your donation will bring us closer to a world without leukemia. 

Thank you for your support! Together, we can make an impact. 💜

Team stories like this help raise awareness, inspire others, and remind us all why this cause matters. We encourage others to share their own “why” and join us in making a difference.

Also, to register, visit: https://leukemiarf.org/gibbons5k/