Meet Jessica: Education Expert & Marathon Runner!
With only 67 days until the London Marathon on April 26th, the countdown is officially on! We are thrilled to introduce the second of our four incredible runners: Jessica Chermak.
Jessica is an Independent College Counsellor with over a decade of experience in academia. As the founder of Virtual College Counselors, she is dedicated to a holistic approach to student success, balancing academic, professional, and personal growth.
Having spent years researching at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Institute of Behavioural Science, Jessica knows exactly what it takes to build resilience. Now, she’s putting that knowledge into practice as she tackles a severe case of the running bug to support our mission!
After the New York City Marathon in 2025
Lesley: Thanks so much for speaking to me today, Jessica. What motivated you to run the London Marathon in support of CoachBright?
Jessica: As a college counsellor in the US, access and opportunity is my top priority. I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact of coaching and mentorship and how having access to resources and support enables upward social mobility. So CoachBright’s mission to level the playing field resonates deeply with the work I do every day.
Lesley: Is there a particular moment or story from CoachBright that inspires you during training?
Jessica: I can’t pinpoint a specific moment or story per se. However, whenever I feel unmotivated before or during a run, I remind myself that each step in training, and certainly during the race, is in service to underserved youths. I’m privileged to be able to run these races and to support young people around the globe, and I hope my running journey can inspire others to exercise their privileges in service of others, too.
Lesley: How do you explain CoachBright’s mission to people who ask why you’re running for the charity?
Jessica: I just say that I’m running the London Marathon with team CoachBright to raise funds for a cause close to my heart: providing support to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and ensuring greater upward social mobility.
Lesley: What has been the most rewarding part of fundraising for CoachBright so far?
Jessica: Having a great excuse to talk to people about why we should support young people in developing agency, independence and confidence. When friends and colleagues hint that I might be a little too ambitious with my running goals, I’m delighted to explain why I’m so motivated to reach them. Also I recently hosted a fantastic community fundraiser in my neighbourhood in partnership with a wonderful local restaurant called The Post, in Colorado. Huge thanks to General Manager Renee Stern, and Bridget Fertal, for helping me plan such a successful event.
Dine In or Take Out, for Good Vibes and Great Eats!
Lesley: How wonderful to have community businesses supporting. We are so grateful too. And I hope anyone reading this, local to the restaurant chain, will make a point of going to eat there! How do you stay connected to CoachBright’s work while preparing for such a big challenge?
Jessica: I live and breathe CoachBright’s work in my daily work life in the US, and my runs are often spent dreaming up ways in which my organisation can support young people on a more global scale. I’m intrinsically connected to CoachBright’s mission, and am inspired by the potential I see in young adults.
Lesley: Which part of the training journey has reminded you most of the resilience shown by CoachBright beneficiaries?
Jessica: There are so many days where I feel too tired to lace up my shoes and hit the pavement, and I’m motivated in those moments by the perseverance of young people who dedicate their time and energy to personal growth and development. If they can show up every day with the intention of improving their lives, then I can lace up in solidarity and support.
Lesley: What message do you hope your marathon effort sends to the young people whom CoachBright supports?
Jessica: As a slow runner who sits comfortably at the back of the pack, I hear often that I’m too slow to call myself a runner. I’m fuelled by that energy, to prove to myself that I can do things that other people can’t or won’t or don’t. I hope that’s the message my efforts send to the young people whom CoachBright supports: if you can’t ignore the negativity of others as they try to put you down unnecessarily, then use that negativity to stoke your flame and do things that bring you joy and help you grow in meaningful ways.
After completing the Chicago Marathon in 2023
Lesley: I love that! And if you could dedicate each mile to a different aspect of CoachBright’s impact, what would some of those miles represent?
Bita: I think every mile inherently represents impact (physically and metaphorically)! The keywords that align with CoachBright’s mission that are most inspiring to me include: confidence, agency, independence, personal growth, resilience, and dedication.
When I signed up for the NYC Marathon for 2024, I was convinced it would be my last. However, I was blown away by the energy of the city and, before I even crossed the finish line, I decided to set my sights on that six-star World Major Marathon Medal. Here's my trajectory:
Chicago ('23) --> NYC ('24) --> Berlin ('25) + NYC round 2 ('25) --> Tokyo ('26) --> London ('26) --> Boston ('27)
Lesley: Tokyo is in less than two weeks! Wow!
Jessica: Yes! I’ve never been there before! I've got about 2000 more miles of training ahead of me before I have that six-star medal in hand, and after Berlin, each mile I run is in service to important causes. So, anyone reading this, please help me raise funds for CoachBright programmes, to positively impact young lives. Every contribution, big or small, can make a difference and empower youths to dream big and create the lives they once only dreamed of. Thank you for your support!
Lesley: Thank you so much Jessica. It’s an honour to talk to you and I can’t wait to meet and cheer you on in April.
Anyone wishing to support our runners as they prepare for the London Marathon 2026 can make a donation here or by clicking this link: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/coachbright/profile