Fueled by Love and Purpose: A Marathon Journey with T2

For David Ferrell and Jake Rosko, representing The Team to End Aids at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon is about more than just a marathon; it’s about representing love and the power of chosen family. Through their personal journeys and relationship, they’ve found strength and support through T2 and it's mission to improve the lives of those who are living with or are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS

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Finding Strength and Focus Through the Miles

As he was preparing to graduate from college, David was facing the age-old question of what he wanted to do with his life. A friend of his working at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago suggested that he join Team to End AIDS  (T2) to stay disciplined and expand his sense of community. Since his first triathlon with T2 in 2012, David has completed seven triathlons and will be completing his fourth Bank of America Chicago marathon this year with T2. 

Jake has been running on and off his entire life, but started taking it seriously in 2022, while training for his first half marathon with David. He then completed his first full marathon the following year. Jake will run his third Bank of America Chicago marathon this year with T2. 

David’s favorite part about running is how it pushes each athlete on a personal level, while also building a community where runners can inspire and motivate one another. He loves seeing the diverse range of runners out on the trails, each pushing themselves toward race day — proof that no obstacle can stand in the way when we’re determined to reach our goals. For Jake, running has become a physically active state of meditation — when his focus narrows to just his tempo and breathing, the negativity fades away.

How David and Jake’s Friendship Became a Journey of Endurance and Love

David and Jake first met at Barry’s Bootcamp in 2018, where David was taking classes, and Jake was working at the smoothie bar. While there’s still some playful debate over whether someone accidentally made David’s smoothie wrong just to spark a conversation, the two quickly struck up a friendship that lasted for years. As the pandemic unfolded, they began checking in on each other more often, growing closer until they officially started dating in February 2021.

With so much going on during those years, David was looking for something to help clear his mind. He decided to sign up for the Chicago Sprint Triathlon and invited Jake to join him, hoping the experience would bring them even closer as they trained side by side. David’s support gave Jake the push he needed to start running longer distances, ultimately leading to the two signing up for the Bank of America Chicago marathon together with T2 in 2023. 

Jake and David’s Unforgettable Proposal at the Finish Line

In Jake, David had found his confidant, safe space, and forever life partner. The love and support from their families is unconditional, something David says is something he could only have dreamed of during the time when he was first coming out. To David, if they could run a marathon together, while fundraising and being embraced by a welcoming community, they could overcome anything. That’s why, at the finish line of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, David decided he would drop down to one knee and ask Jake to marry him.

David started planning for the proposal while training, coordinating with their families and enlisting his mom’s help to keep the ring safe until the finish. Jake had no idea and was stunned when David got down on one knee after running 26.2 miles. With their families watching, and David’s sneaky plan to ensure the ring was ready, the only thing Jake needed to do was make it to the finish line.  

From Finish Line to ‘I Do’: Celebrating Love at T2HQ

The following year, Jake and David came full circle, choosing to get married at T2HQ after the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. They wanted to seal the deal just as they began this chapter, by crossing the marathon finish line together. T2 had been a meaningful part of their journey as a couple, and it felt only right to say "I do" surrounded by the community that had supported them for years. To make the moment even more special, the ceremony was kept a surprise from nearly everyone until it began. The joy and excitement in the room made it one of the most unforgettable moments of the day.

More Than Miles: Representing T2 with Pride and Purpose

For David, representing T2 is a way to share a message of hope and love. When he came out at 21, he felt lost and longed for a support system. T2 was that for him. He’s proud to now be part of this community and continue raising awareness for the team and their mission alongside his husband. He feels blessed to have the support of his family, who also advocated for T2 and the amazing work they do in the community. 

T2’s mission — to support those most vulnerable and living with HIV/AIDS — is deeply meaningful to Jake. Representing the team and raising funds for critical services like health equity and housing access is an honor he takes seriously. As a gay man who came out at 16, Jake feels blessed to have always had a family that supports him and is grateful for the privilege to live authentically true to himself because he never needed to hide anything about who he was. For him, T2 is where authenticity, empathy, and compassion come together, and if his journey can inspire others to live as their true selves, that’s all he could hope for.

Support, Strength, and Chosen Family with T2

T2 has become David’s chosen family, the people who make him a better version of himself by allowing space for him when he was first welcomed on the team. He would have never seen himself as an eight-time triathlete and four-time marathon finisher, and he credits it all to the support T2 has given him. T2 expanded his view of himself and the world, and is his family in the running community. 

Jake believes that now, more than ever, having a strong sense of community is essential. For him, T2 serves as a foundation — a safe space that brings like-minded people together. The stories he hears and the people he meets through the team continually remind him why he chooses to run with T2.