As he prepares to run the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 9, Johnny Figel, 25, of Oak Park answered a few questions for the Oak Leaves on Sept. 6 about his fundraising efforts for Erika’s Lighthouse through his upcoming benefit event. The nonprofit aims to promote awareness of teen depression and mental illness.
The event, which requires a $25 minimum donation, begins at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at Skrine Chops, 7230 Madison St. in Forest Park. It will feature a silent auction, split-the-pot raffle and live jazz performance by The Rajiv Halim Quintet.
Figel is a 2009 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School and works for the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce.
Q: What’s your running background?
A: This is my second Chicago Marathon. I ran it last year and raised money for Erika’s Lighthouse. It was a pretty unbelievable experience. I had never run an official long-distance race before. It’s like a giant party. … I started with running a 5K in March 2015. That completely changed my lifestyle.
Q: How did you come across Erika’s Lighthouse?
A: I was looking to run for a charity. When I was 15, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. It was a huge physical battle, but it was also a mental health battle as well. So I was looking for a mental health-oriented organization. They get curriculum and programming into schools, and they do awareness programs, too. I had an awesome time running for them last year. They vet you, and I was chosen to run on their behalf.
Q: What was fundraising like last year?
A: Last year, we raised $2,300. I hadn’t really done fundraising before, so that was a new experience, and the response to it was really positive. It forced me to be creative, besides just asking people directly. It was a growing experience.
Q: This year, you’ve got a fundraising event scheduled. Can you tell me about it?
A: Because I did send out a lot of emails last year, I figured I’d try to do something different this year. Rajiv Halim is a pretty big jazz artist in Chicago, and pretty well known in the jazz community. I figure, get everyone in one location. I wanted it to be more community-oriented than direct solicitation.
Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago. Check out more online at ChicagoTribune.com/ShoutOut.
Caitlin Mullen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
