For the more than 2,000 runners on Saturday, May 5 at the police memorial run, there was no shortage of fallen officers to be remembered.

But for Garry Forde and the O'Neill family, the race was as much about remembering Officer Maureen O'Neill's father, who was killed in the line of duty in 1974, as it was about remembering someone who is still alive: her daughter, Fiona O'Neill.

Ten-year-old Fiona was born with methemoglobinemia, a rare blood disease that leaves her severely mentally and physically disabled. The O'Neill family knew of only two other children in the world that were afflicted with the disease, and they both have passed away.

"She was our miracle child," said Maureen, a 25-year police veteran. "They didn't expect her to survive more than two years, but she just turned ten last month."

When he heard of Fiona's condition ten years ago, Forde, a long-time marathoner and childhood friend of Fiona's father, Kevin O'Neill, found a new purpose in his running: to raise money and awareness for Fiona.

"I was toning back on marathons and then this happened," said Forde, who has now run 21 marathons. "I absolutely love running now. If Fiona can struggle like this and she hasn't even made it to the starting line of life yet, then I can struggle through a race."

Forde kicks a gaelic soccer ball along the race route as he runs. After he's finished, he has it autographed by local celebrities and his soccer team, then he auctions it off to raise money for Fiona.

At the Run to Remember, Fiona for the first time was able to join Forde during a race. Cheered on by Fiona's two sisters and her parents, Forde ran pushing Fiona around the track in her wheelchair. They raced along with another disabled child being pushed in a wheelchair along the course, 12-year-old Mark Jackson. Mark, the son of police sergeant Gregory Jackson, was born six months premature and has cerebral palsy and a tracheotomy.

"This is so important because this is something he can do and enjoy athletically and we can participate and be a part of and support the foundation as well," said his mother Marchell Jackson. "This will hopefully catapult him to do more races."

Finishing times were not as fast as other races this racing season, however, runners said they were even more meaningful. The men's side was won by Jason Lee (16:27), and the women's side by Amy Thomas Elder (18:57). Neither have affiliation with the police department, but said they were glad to support their community's protection.

"It was really fun to be here," said Elder. "I love the whole event, it's just really special."

This was the third annual Chicago police memorial race, a race that was started by the Chicago Police running team. In the past two years the race has raised more than $50,000.

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