By Katlyn Smith

man running

Each June for the past three years, West Chicago’s Mike DeMeritt has run in a 100-mile race in southern Wisconsin.

He navigates rocky terrain, hills, rolling meadows and other obstacles in a ’round-the-clock, ultra race.

This is the time of year when it never hurts to sit back for just a moment amid all the hustle and bustle and reflect on the people who make our lives just a little bit better, who always seem to be there for us, who put the heart and soul in our communities.

There are countless such people across DuPage County, of course, and over the next week or so we’d like to introduce you to a few of them. During a time of reflection, these truly are People to be Thankful For.

At aid stations set up along the grueling route, he might grab pieces of peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches, boiled potatoes, bananas — “whatever your stomach feels like it can accept,” says the 51-year-old DeMeritt. Read More