Connecticut Woman Commits to a Cause on her Wedding Day

On the day of their wedding, most brides are worried about seating arrangements, crying while walking down the aisle or getting their hair just right. This is not the case for Kate O'Keefe, a Connecticut resident and Legislative Aide to the Senate Republican Caucus in the Connecticut General Assembly. On the day of her wedding, February 12, 2011, O'Keefe will be running the Cupid's Chase 5K in Hartford.

Last week, O'Keefe received a notification via email for the Cupid's Chase 5K coming up in the Hartford area and knew that she needed to run. O'Keefe started running in high school to train for soccer. Her father ran marathons and she always trained with him but it wasn't until this past summer when she fell in love with running. O'Keefe describes that she wanted a new challenge for herself on a physical level so she signed up for the half marathon in New York and trained all summer and fall. O'Keefe received a lot of support from her family and her fiance, Kenny. Kenny is the first person O'Keefe looks for at the finish line and he is always cheering her on behind the camera lense.

"Kenny and I have been together over 4 years," says O'Keefe. "We got engaged on February 13, 2009, so this weekend has so much significance for us," she added. O'Keefe's father is a judge and he is marrying the couple at a small ceremony of family and friends later that night on February 12th after the race. O'Keefe's mother is her Matron of Honor and Kenny's son is his Best Man. "It's truly an intimate family affair with the people who are most important to us and our lives and we could not be more excited," said O'Keefe.

Running for a cause is highly important for O'Keefe, which is why she chose the Cupid's Chase 5K Run hosted by Community Options. Community Options is a national nonprofit organization that has been developing homes and employment for people with disabilities since 1989. The organization operates in 37 cities across 10 states supporting thousands of people.

"I like to run for a cause because I get so much out of just the act of running that if I can do that and even just touch one person or help them in some way just by my entry fee then that is important," said O'Keefe. "I'll run pretty much any race, but the one's that help those less fortunate are the ones that really have an impact," she added.

O'Keefe says that running has given her so much personally by building self-confidence and allowing her to become more physically fit and even says that running is like her free therapy. O'Keefe indicates that she has found a stronger, cooler version of herself that she didn't even know existed as a result of running.

O'Keefe plans to make the Cupid's Chase an annual event that she participates in, but next year she will come across the finish line as Kate McAvoy. McAvoy, O'Keefe's fiance, is the owner of a restaurant chain in Connecticut called the Wood N Tap.

To join O'Keefe at the Cupid's Chase 5K Run, please visit the Cupid's Chase website to register or learn how to become a volunteer.