Fairfax Hospital nurse, Susan McClanahan, is planning to run 5 marathons in 5 weeks to raise money to help Food for Others meet the increased need for food in Northern Virginia due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

McClanahan will be running 26.2 miles on May 24th, June 7th, June 12th, June 20th and June 24th.

“I was originally planning to run just one marathon – which I was calling a ‘quaranthon,’” she said. But, McClanahan was inspired to host the fundraiser after receiving food that members of the community have been gifting to hospital workers. McClanahan is a night-shift labor and delivery nurse who has been serving as an essential worker on the front lines of the Coronavirus crisis at Fairfax Hospital four nights per week.

“As healthcare workers, we are getting tons of donations of food which is so kind and a huge morale-booster,” she said. “But I feel so lucky that I’m still able to work, and I know demand for food has gone up at organizations like Food for Others, so I thought this would be a good way to help.”

Since schools and most workplaces closed in mid-March, there has been a huge increase in the number of families needing food from Food for Others. FFO has been providing food for four times more households than usual, and as closures extend, more and more people need help putting food on the table.

Susan posted her fundraiser on Gofundme on Sunday afternoon, and has already raised $1,925 towards her goal of $5,000.

McClanahan has run 65 marathons in her life and the 5 marathons she will complete as part of the fundraiser will help her reach one of her personal goals: running 70 marathons.  As she runs, her neighbors plan to decorate her route with chalk and cheer her on from their driveways.