CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- For some runners, the Illinois Marathon was more than just a race.
Katie Hynes is smiling through the soreness. She was one of 20,000 people participating in Saturday's marathon.
But she wasn't just running for fun. Hypes had a cause - the International Justice Mission, an organization rescuing women and children from slavery and human trafficking.
"I was just really inspired," said Hynes. "I wanted to use what I could do to help them."
And now she's being helped in return. Friends like Jake Pratt were there motivating Hynes - and other runners - to keep on movin'.
"It's a long way and it's kind of a lonely run," said Pratt, while high-fiving a passing runner. "Giving them a smile is just really important."
Whether it's helping a stranger or a someone special, good friends are there every step of the way.
"I couldn't have done it without [their encouragement]," said Hynes. "I definitely picked up the pace when I saw them."
For more information on Hynes' cause, visit www.ijm.org.
