Sangita Bhagat of Des Plaines ran in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon as part of the Lung Power Team, a group of athletes running in support of Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago.

Sangita has run half marathons in other cities, but said she thought it was time she participated in one in her hometown of Chicago. She ran in memory of her father, Shantilal, who passed away from respiratory failure and pneumonia in March 2011.

“This cause became a lot more personal to me because he passed away so suddenly,” Sangita said.

She wrote online that she felt powerless watching he father suffer from his respiratory issues, and wanted to do something to help others. This marathon will do just that, she wrote. “As I train for the long runs for the marathon, I know I am helping others breathe easier – mile by mile, breath by breath.”

Lung Power Team athletes participate in races nationwide, and many are personally affected by lung disease. Each Lung Power Team member raises funds that support RHAMC’s lung disease research, advocacy and education. For more information or to support a runner, visit http://www.lungchicago.org/lung-power-team/.