Detroit, MI
Kidney recipient pays her ‘Wish’ forward in Metro Detroit
Wednesday, one young woman’s wish to change the lives of children like her came true.
Tiffani Hunt was 17 years old when she was diagnosed with kidney failure. She would spend 12 hours a week on dialysis at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit.
Just as Make-A-Wish Michigan was going to grant her wish to go on a cruise to Aruba, the pandemic hit.
The pandemic not only put her wish on hold but also made hours on dialysis difficult with no volunteers, activities, or special visitors like service animals. Hunt did make friends, but one of them passed away.
In her friend’s honor, she made a new wish that included paying it forward. She asked Make-A-Wish for Nintendo Switches for the patients to have.
“I don’t want anyone to be bored,” said Hunt, who is now 22 and received a kidney transplant. “It’s a boring thing to go through, especially at a young age. I know I was only 17 doing it, so if I was bored at 17, I can just imagine a 12-year-old or a 7-year-old doing the same thing.”
Chief Diversity and Engagement Officer for Make-A-Wish Michigan Sherri Collins said it took some time to brainstorm, but eventually, they landed on something Hunt wished she had.
“There are at least five Nintendo Switches that will be here for when children come for their treatments,” said Collins. “It’s loaded with all the games from ages two and up, so any child, whatever their age is, will find something on there they’ll enjoy.”
At first glance, the wish is just video games, but it goes a long way for young patients like Terrien Leake. He’s been on dialysis since 2015.
“It inspires me to want to keep striving in order to give back to people just like me, and I hope someday I can accomplish it,” said Leake.
Meghan Zechmeister is a social worker at the hospital and explained how mentally and physically draining dialysis is for children.
“They miss a lot of after-school activities because they have to come here, they’re missing out on classes, and so playing a game while they’re here lets them be a kid again, and they don’t have to worry about anything else,” said Zechmeister. “They can play against each other; they can play tournaments.”
“This is something they’ll take with them forever, not just today,” Collins said. “Just knowing that someone cared enough about them that they provided this for them.”
Make-A-Wish Michigan is granting more wishes than ever before. Click here to donate.
Copyright 2023 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
Michigan couple wins 2024 Detroit Free Press Marathon
Sydney Devore jumps into Adam Bowman’s arms after the Ferndale couple won both the men’s and women’s races in the 2024 Detroit Free Press Marathon.
The largest international race in North America returns to Detroit this weekend — and crosses into Windsor.
The 48th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon, presented by MSU Federal Credit Union, will send runners over the Ambassador Bridge into Canada and back through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, rain or shine.
The marathon weekend runs Oct. 17-19 and features eight sold-out races, two international border crossings, live music, food and tens of thousands of spectators. More than 26,000 participants are registered this year.
Sunday’s races — the Marathon, International Half, Motor City Half and Marathon Relay — sold out faster than ever before, organizers said. The event also includes Saturday’s 5K, 1-Mile Presented by Precision Garage Door, Kids Marathon Presented by Priority Health, and Meijer Little Detroit Dash.
Marathon weekend schedule and events
The weekend begins with the free Health and Fitness Expo at Huntington Place, open from 1-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. The event features Detroit Free Press Marathon apparel and vendors offering the latest in running shoes, clothing, nutrition, technology and more.
Other weekend highlights include the official warm-up party Friday at Chalet 313 in Campus Martius, from 7–9 p.m., and the Blessing of the Sneakers service Saturday at 5 p.m. at Ss. Peter & Paul Jesuit Church.
Race start times:
- Saturday, Oct. 18:
- 1-mile: 8:25 a.m.
- 5K: 8:50 a.m.
- Meijer Little Detroit Dash: 10:05 a.m.
- Kids marathon: 10:15 a.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 19:
- Gear check: opens at 5:30 a.m. at Monroe Street and Woodward Avenue.
- International marathon: 7 a.m. (Adaptive athletes start at 6:58 a.m.)
- International half-marathon: 7 a.m.
- Marathon relay: 7 a.m.
- Motor City half-marathon: 10:30 a.m.
- Awards ceremony: 11 a.m.
- After party “Conquered” at Campus Martius: 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Where do the races kick off?
All Saturday races are held on the Detroit Riverfront and start at Atwater and Rivard streets. All Sunday races begin on Fort Street between the Lodge Service Drive and Third Avenue, with the finish line at the intersection of Woodward Ave. and Congress Street at the foot of the Michigan Soldiers’ and Sailors’ monument in Campus Martius Park.
For maps of the marathon, half-marathons, relay and 5K courses, see our previous coverage: Detroit Free Press Marathon 2025: Route, maps, parking, road closures to know.
Weather during marathon weekend
Runners and spectators at this year’s Detroit Free Press Marathon should brace for a warm but wet weekend, with showers, possible thunderstorms and gusty winds expected to hit the Detroit-Windsor area, according to forecasters.
- Friday: Starts dry with highs in the mid-60s before a 30%–40% chance of evening showers.
- Saturday: Highs in the mid to upper 70s, with a brief dry stretch expected late morning into early afternoon. Rain chances then increase to 70% to 80% by the evening.
- Sunday: Marathon day brings an 80% chance of showers, possible thunderstorms and winds gusting 25–40 mph, with highs near 66 degrees.
“It’s not really looking to be a pleasant Sunday at all, especially for anyone who’s walking or running in the marathon,” said Alex Mannion, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in White Lake Township.
Experts recommend runners wear light, moisture-wicking layers, shoes with traction and a hat to keep rain off the face.
Detroit marathon 2025 road closures and restrictions
Roads along the course will begin closing as early as 4 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, when the full marathon and international crossings take place. Drivers are encouraged to park outside the course perimeter and plan extra travel time.
Sunday road closures include:
- Monroe Street: Closed from Randolph Street to the I-375 Service Drive.
- Northbound streets off Jefferson Avenue: Limited access north of St. Aubin Street.
- Grand River (southbound): Closed at Cass Avenue.
- Woodward Avenue (southbound): Closed south of Adelaide Street.
- Lafayette Street (westbound): Closed at Iroquois Avenue.
- Fort Street (eastbound) in Corktown: Closed at Grand Boulevard.
- Lodge Freeway (southbound): Closed after Howard Street.
- M-10 South: Closed at Howard Street.
The Ambassador Bridge will have restricted traffic, and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel will be closed from 6:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19.
Detroit Free Press Marathon parking
Marathon organizers recommend booking your parking in advance via SpotHero. Reserve your parking spot using the Detroit Free Press Marathon SpotHero Parking Page.
Race packets
International race packets must be picked up in person at the Health and Fitness Expo on Friday or Saturday. Packets for the Motor City Half Marathon, 5K, 1-Mile, Kids Marathon and Meijer Little Detroit Dash can be collected at the expo by the runner or someone with a printed confirmation email. Runners in the 5K, 1-Mile, Kids Marathon and Meijer Little Detroit Dash may also pick up packets Saturday morning near the start/finish line.
All international race participants must bring valid travel documents to pick up their race packets.
Tracking runners and results
Live runner tracking is available on the Detroit Free Press Marathon app, which lets users search runners by name or bib number in the “start tracking” feature. The app can be downloaded on Apple or Android devices. Unofficial results will be posted on the marathon’s website immediately after the races.
Awards will be presented during the on-stage ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday at Campus Martius as part of the Conquered after party, featuring food trucks, photo ops and live music.
For any other details, download the 2025 Marathon Guide here or visit freepmarathon.com.
Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.
Takeaways from Detroit Lions loss to Kansas City Chiefs
Detroit Lions lose to Chiefs: Dave Birkett and Shawn Windsor break down the Week 6 game in Kansas City.
Brian Branch’s one-game suspension for striking JuJu Smith-Schuster in the face has been upheld by appeals officer Jordy Nelson, the former Green Bay Packers wide receiver.
The NFL said today Branch will serve the suspension he was given for this week’s Monday night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he knocked Smith to the ground in the final seconds of the Detroit Lions’ 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Branch, who has been fined three other times this season for unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness violations, hit Smith-Schuster in the side of the helmet as players from both teams began shaking hands after Patrick Mahomes’ final kneel-down snap.
He said the incident was retaliation for an illegal blindside block Smith-Schuster made on him late in the game. Smith-Schuster’s block was not penalized by officials.
[ Maybe we can all learn something from Brian Branch’s infraction to end Lions-Chiefs ]
Branch apologized for the incident and called his actions “childish” after the game, and Lions coach Dan Campbell said the incident was “inexcusable.”
In a letter to Branch announcing the punishment, NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote Branch violated the league’s policy on unsportsmanlike conduct.
“Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” Runyon wrote. “Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.”
Campbell said Tuesday he was approaching this week as if Branch would lose his appeal and not play against a Buccaneers team that has the best record in the NFL at 5-1 and an MVP candidate at quarterback in Baker Mayfield.
Branch’s absence comes at a tough time for a Lions secondary that will be shorthanded for the third straight week.
Starting cornerback D.J. Reed is on injured reserve and out till next month with a hamstring strain, fellow starting cornerback Terrion Arnold (shoulder) and backup safety Avonte Maddox (hamstring) are not expected to return until after the Lions’ Week 8 bye, and safety Kerby Joseph has been playing through a knee injury he suffered in a Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Campbell said the team will decide on Joseph’s availability later this week and could give him two weeks off like it did Taylor Decker with his injured shoulder. The Lions have a bye next week.
“We saw the game the other day,” Campbell said. “He tried to gut through it, played most of the game. Look, it wasn’t his best performance, but he’d tell you that, too. He was giving us what he had, and so we’ll have to reassess.”
A second-round pick out of Alabama in 2023, Branch has been one of the Lions’ most valuable defensive players since he entered the league while also struggling with on-field discipline.
Branch has been fined 10 times since the start of the 2024 season and was fined last year for striking Arizona Cardinals tight end Tip Reiman in the face, similar to how he hit Smith-Schuster, after a field goal. This year, he’s lost more than $111,000 in wages, including the $76,625 he will be docked for Sunday’s game.
He will be eligible to return to the Lions’ active roster on Tuesday, Oct. 21
“Look, this is one instance of something that happened,” Campbell said. “It doesn’t matter what led to it, that’s no different than you’re driving down the road and something happens on the highway, you can’t take out your aggression on somebody else. Can’t cross that line. Our players know that. Brian knows it. He’s fine. He’ll learn from this and be better. Listen, he’s an outstanding young man, he really is and he’s got a big heart and he made a mistake and he’ll learn from it.”
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
No injuries were reported in a crash between a vehicle and a house on Detroit’s west side early Wednesday morning, police said.
The crash happened at about 3:20 a.m. near the intersection of Roselawn and Curtis streets, which is between Wyoming and Livernois avenues, according to authorities.
Detroit police said their preliminary investigation found a man traveling in a vehicle in the area lost control of the car and crashed into the home.
Officials said the driver was taken to a hospital and listed in stable condition.
They said the home was occupied at the time of the crash, but they didn’t know how many people were inside.
Authorities said they have no other information to release at this time.
The incident is the latest crash involving a vehicle and a building in Metro Detroit.
A Detroit woman was charged on Tuesday after she allegedly drove an SUV into a Center Line home, causing serious injuries to a 9-year-old girl who was asleep inside.
Last month, a car crashed into a restaurant on Hayes near Hall Road in Clinton Township, injuring three people.
Also in September, rented box trucks were crashed through the walls of businesses in Royal Oak Township and Detroit in attempted thefts.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
X: @CharlesERamirez
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