Hello! My name is Cass Casarez (they/he pronouns) and I am a Family Resource Representative here at Children's Minnesota in St. Paul. I am also a proud nonbinary transmasculine person. 

This year I am taking on one of my biggest challenges yet in the form of the TC Loony Challenge. I'll be doing the TC 10K and TC 5K back to back on Saturday before taking on the TC 10 Mile on Sunday. It's my first time doing more than one race in a weekend and the TC 10 Mile falls on my birthday! As a proud Twin Cities in Motion Ambassador, I am especially grateful for the group's efforts to make running and movement more inclusive for everyone, including the addition of a nonbinary gender category for all of its races.

One of the reasons why I wanted to work at Children's is because of the Gender Health Clinic. The work that Dr. Kade Goepferd and their team do is so important, especially right now. I am in awe of them and their patients, transgender and gender nonconforming kids who just want to live their best lives. 

Tackling the Loony Challenge will be tough, but not as tough as being a trans or gender nonconforming kid can be. If you are able to, please donate to help support trans rights in our community. Thank you for considering! Take care of yourself, because you're worth it.