Heroes Spotlight: Sandra and Shelby Moore

Keep the Faith and Don’t be Afraid-- Hero Runs to Keep Late Husband’s Legacy Alive

Throughout their marriage, Shelby and Sandra Moore enjoyed spending quality time together reading the Bible, going to church, listening to live music at the Ravinia Festival, and running marathons.

A faithful man who truly lived out his Christian values, Shelby was always passionate about helping his community. But he would use his later-in-life love of running to help children living at Mercy Home. He was introduced to the sport by a friend, and in 2005, he ran the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. It was there that he heard about Mercy Home. Later, Shelby completed the Bank of America Chicago Marathon to raise funds for Mercy Home in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014.

“When I saw my husband complete his first marathon, I saw the love and passion he had for it,” she said. “I felt good about [Mercy Home]. He got me involved in [running], and that changed my life.”

Sandra Moore discovered that she enjoyed running with her husband. It brought them closer together and gave them structure.

“He told me that [he was] going to make sure that I [was] ready to do a marathon with [him],” she said.

Sandra finished her first marathon in 2008, and since then she’s run the Bank of America Chicago Marathons as a member of our Heroes team in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. She also ran the Shamrock Shuffle in 2019, and the Chicago Half Marathon in 2023 to support Mercy Home. 

Their love story began in 1986 at the First Midwest Bank in Chicago, where Sandra and Shelby would often encounter one another as they made transactions. From the moment the couple locked eyes, Shelby was certain that Sandra would one day be his wife. Whenever they saw each other, Shelby would give Sandra his business card and asked her to give him a call.

Sandra, however, was not as certain. She was a single mother and not looking for a new relationship. But Shelby was persistent. Eventually they started dating and their feelings for one another grew stronger and stronger.

They spent Christmas with Shelby’s family at his parents’ house. There, Shelby surprised Sandra with a gift that she would never forget.

“I can remember sitting in the chair,” she said. “All of a sudden, the music was on, and the Temptations [played]. He came up to me, got on his knees [in front of his family] and he said, ‘would you marry me?’ I said, ‘sure, little boy, I’ll marry you!’ That was the most beautiful thing in my life.”

Their wedding was heavenly, she said, as they walked down the aisle in front of their close family and friends to Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky.”

Shelby and Sandra were inseparable and unified in love. Their marriage was built on the principles of faith and authentic, and honest communication.

“He always brought the best out of me,” she said. “We complimented each other. We didn't keep secrets, and we didn't do anything to hurt each other.”

Shelby treated Sandra’s son like he was his own.

“I thank God for Shelby because he was a father's image for my son,” she said.  “He was a great man. “He helped my son [Ashley] get through school.”

In 2023, Ashley received his Ph. D in Pharmaceutical Research from Florida State University. And he’s got Shelby to thank. He gave Ashley the guidance and encouragement he needed throughout his childhood, teenage years, and his academic journey.

Shelby also taught Sandra how to drive, do repair work to the house, and manage finances.

“[He] always made sure [we were] connected to God first, [then] family, and always [emphasized] taking care of those that can't take care of themselves,” she said.

One night in 2016, Sandra dreamed of Shelby enveloped in a brilliant light. They were spending a great deal of time training for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and were optimistic about running together as Mercy Home Heroes. Waking up for a run one morning, several months before the race, something seemed amiss. 

“My husband was very anxious that morning, and he was so anxious to leave the house," she said. “I couldn’t understand.”

When they got to Jackson Park in Chicago, they ran around the track. On the third lap, Shelby told his wife that he felt as though someone were behind him in his lane, like he was being closely followed. He turned to ask the phantom runner to give him some space, but there was no one there.

As they ran around the fourth time, he looked at his wife and collapsed with his arms stretched out on the ground.

Paramedics arrived, but they couldn’t get a pulse. Despite their attempts to revive him, Shelby had suffered a massive heart attack and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Sandra was in utter shock.

Shelby Moore died on May 21, just two days before his birthday. He would have been 64 years old.

“That was the most extraordinary experience I have ever witnessed in my life, to see my husband die,” Sandra said.

She said the loss underscored the importance of appreciating the present and every minute you have with your family members and friends.

“Tomorrow is not promised to you,” she said. “You [should] love this person right now.”

With her heart broken, she was nevertheless determined to finish what she and her late husband had started—running the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon for Mercy Home.

“I was wondering what I was going to do now that my husband is gone,” she said. “And there was a voice that came to me in a vision. It told me to keep the faith, and don't be afraid.”

She recalled her husband's desire to help people and his love for Mercy Home’s mission that gave her the strength to bounce back.

“My husband was such a great man,” she said. “He always had a heart to help people, and he loved running for Mercy Home. When he [passed away], I said, ‘honey, I’m going to continue to give back as long as I live.’”

At the pre-race pasta dinner that year, Mercy Home President and CEO Fr. Scott Donahue paid tribute to Shelby Moore and honored Sandra. Fr. Scott presented Sandra with a crystal statuette of an angel. “It’s a symbol we use around here,” said Fr. Scott, to signify the many ways our friends and supporters serve as examples of Christ’s mercy to our kids.

“Angels are messengers of God,” he continued. “And so, please accept this from [our] children, from my coworkers—really given to you and to your wonderful husband and given to your good hearts—and know that this messenger of God speaks on behalf of all of us saying thank you, God bless you.”

Sandra received the gift to a standing ovation from her fellow Heroes and took time to share words of gratitude with the Mercy Home family.

“Before my husband died, we used to run the marathon every other year,” she said. “This organization meant so much to him,” she said.

“This has been a very, very, hard time for me in my life … I know my husband is with the Lord now, and I know he would want me to do this. So, I’m doing this run in honor of him and I know his spirit is going to be there to take me to the next chapter in my life. And I just want to thank everybody who’s just been a part of this. It would really mean a lot to my husband, and it means a lot to me. I just want to keep his legacy alive.”

Shelby Moore poured out his love and gifts on earth to his family, friends, and community. Now, Sandra Moore vowed to carry her husband’s legacy forward with each stride of the 26.2-mile route.

This year, she is running the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon as a Hero with her husband’s spirit guiding her to the finish line once more.

“God wants me to do this, and I'm doing it for God, my husband, and Mercy Home,” she said.

“I pray that everybody runs their race and is successful at it. And [that] God grants them the desires of their heart. I pray for Mercy Home to be successful, [to] be bigger than it's ever been.”

We are so grateful for the dedication of Mercy Home Heroes like Sandra and Shelby Moore. Thank you for your support of our mission!