Texas Children’s leaders and team members made a powerful impact at the 2026 Houston Marathon, setting new records for participation and fundraising in support of patient care. A total of 174 runners represented the organization, raising more than $98,000, which is the strongest showing to date through the Run for a Reason program.
For years, Texas Children’s has proudly served as a charity partner of the Houston Marathon. This year’s results reflect the growing commitment of team members across the organization to come together in support of patients and families.
Executives who participated as part of the Texas Children’s Running Team included Dr. Debra F. Sukin, Dan Gollins, Dr. James Versalovic, Kelly Jo Golson, Katie Cooper and Laura Hardy.
Additional Texas Children’s team members played important roles in supporting runners throughout the event. Shaun Reghabi served as lead captain for elite medical sports therapy and post-race recovery, overseeing clinical assessments, recovery support and escalation decisions for elite and sub-elite runners. Sports Physical Therapist Blake Hastings and Sports Physical Therapy Clinical Resident Cassie Schumacher provided acute medical massage triage services, escalating non-elite runners with concerning symptoms to advanced care when needed.
Members of the Diabetes team also participated by cheering on colleagues along the course and were interviewed by ABC 13 during race-day coverage. Click here to view the interview.
Why Participate?
Building on the success of 2026, Texas Children’s will once again field a Running Team filled with both team members and supporters for the January 2027 Houston Marathon, which includes the Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon and We Are Houston 5K. Whether you are a seasoned runner or new to the sport, there is a place for you on the team!
By joining the Texas Children’s Running Team, participants challenge themselves physically while making a meaningful impact on patients. All runners fundraise on behalf of the hospital to help meet the goal of raising $100,000.
If you join the team, you will receive:
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Free race registration – Meet the fundraising requirement of $250 or $500, and registration for the 5K, half marathon or full marathon is covered.
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Support and motivation – Get fundraising tips, training resources and encouragement from a supportive community.
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Exclusive gear – Wear special Texas Children’s Running Team apparel.
Get Registered Now!
Click here to join the Texas Children’s Running Team for the race of your choice.
TCH Monthly Run Meetups
Beginning in February, our TCH Run Meetups will be held every second Saturday of the month at Memorial Park – Clay Family Eastern Glades. Each meet-up includes a designated Texas Children’s team member as the on-site point of contact. These 3-mile run/walk meet-ups provide an opportunity to connect with colleagues and train together. To be added to the monthly calendar invite, contact Lesley Abascal at lbbarnes@texaschildrens.org.
For questions about the Run for a Reason program or Texas Children’s Running Team, contact Cameron Carlin at cdcarlin@texaschildrens.org or (832) 822-0310. Click here to learn more at our charity page.
