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Mike Ulisse: Running for a Purpose as a St. Jude Hero

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Mike Ulisses

Mike Ulisse is a Chief Technical Leader for KBR's Mission Technology Solutions team, but outside of work, he is dedicated to making a difference one mile at a time. An accomplished runner, Mike has completed 16 marathons and has participated in two marathons and two half marathons as a St. Jude Hero. This October, he will take on the Berlin Marathon as he continues supporting the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which provides treatment, travel, housing and food at no cost to families facing childhood cancer.

Mike's running journey began in 2009 when he watched his son, Joseph, complete the famed Leadville 100, a 100-mile ultramarathon in Colorado. Inspired by seeing people his age and older tackle such a demanding race, Mike challenged himself to pursue a marathon of his own. He developed a training plan and completed his first marathon at the Richmond Marathon in 2010. What started as a personal goal quickly became a lifelong passion.

His connection to St. Jude is deeply personal. Years ago, Mike suffered a severe accident, facing a long and complex surgery, Mike prayed to St. Jude for strength and recovery. Following a successful surgery and full recovery, he felt compelled to give back in gratitude. Becoming a St. Jude Hero provided an opportunity to honor that experience while helping children and families facing their own difficult medical journeys.

Throughout his time as a St. Jude Hero, Mike has met numerous St. Jude patients and their families at races across the country. Their stories, resilience and appreciation have left a lasting impression on him and continue to motivate him to keep running and fundraising. He is especially inspired by the impact St. Jude has on children battling cancer and the support the organization provides to families during treatment.

 

Crossing the finish line carries special meaning when running as a St. Jude Hero. It represents months of training, determination and perseverance, all in support of a greater purpose. Mike says he feels a responsibility not only to the children and families of St. Jude, but also to the donors who support his fundraising efforts. Knowing they are counting on him helps keep him motivated through challenging training runs and race-day obstacles.

As he prepares for the Berlin Marathon, Mike has committed to raising $7,500, with a personal goal of reaching $10,000. Looking ahead, he has also applied for the Tokyo Marathon and plans to continue supporting St. Jude if selected. In preparation, he has even begun learning Japanese and listening to J-pop music during training runs.

Mike Ulisse 2

Mike hopes to continue running and fundraising for St. Jude for many years to come. He has already earned St. Jude Hero entries into the New York City, Chicago and Berlin marathons and is aspiring to secure future spots in London, Melbourne, Cape Town and Boston as part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series. Through every race, he remains committed to supporting children and families facing childhood cancer and helping ensure they receive the care they need.

KBR colleagues have also played a meaningful role in supporting his efforts through donations and encouragement, frequently checking in on his training progress and cheering him on throughout his journey.

KBR has proudly supported St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through the KBR Charity Golf Tournament for more than 10 years. In addition to the tournament, KBR supports many of St. Jude's fundraising initiatives in Houston, including serving as the presenting sponsor of the St. Jude Walk and St. Jude Crawfish for a Cure. The Crawfish for a Cure planning committee is made up entirely of KBR employees who volunteer their time to organize and execute the event in support of St. Jude's mission. KBR is honored to continue its longstanding partnership with St. Jude and looks forward to supporting the organization once again at the 20th Annual KBR Charity Golf Tournament on October 19. To support Mike's fundraising efforts, visit his St. Jude fundraising page.