What inspire's you?

I run because I love to run and many things inspire me to run.  But what inspires me to run every single time I run?  The fact that I CAN RUN.  Over two years ago I couldn't walk a block and forget running!  I'm so fortunate that I have medicine that I take that helps me function like a normal human being.  Don't get me wrong, I still have my bad days here and there but I can cope so much better with the medicine.

Lately when I've been running I try think about what it would be like to have this "skill" taken away from me again.  It makes me sad think about this.  My thoughts always turn to Braden and his struggle with Landau-Kleffner Syndrome.  He was born with language and the ability to use it and understand and slowly this is being taken away from him.  He's literally being robbed of a skill that enables him to participate in life just like we do:  sing songs, play games with his friends, learn at school, etc.  I can't imagine how frustrating this must be for him to wake up and want to say something but not being able to get the words out.

Imagine the worry and the stress his mother, father and the rest of his family experience on behalf of Braden.  We all want the best for our loved ones and I know Kris and Mark Peiffer desperately want the burden of this disease taken away so Braden can just enjoy parts of life we all take for granted.  I think they've done an amazing job, I look at Braden's picture posted here and the smile on his face says what amazing parents they are!  You can tell they take all the fear, stress and anxiety out of the equation for Braden and make life as easy as possible for him.  That is an amazing gift.

So when I run and I get tired I think of the Peiffer's and they inspire me to keep going because that's what they do every single day despite how difficult their day may be...I hope you all are inspired as I am by this story:

https://globalgenes.org/give/
https://www.rarediseases.org/about/support/donate/fg_base_view_p3

What does it take to keep Braden going? It takes a lot: a family that loves him dearly, a medical community that won't give up and a being a part of the community.

This is Braden Peiffer.  He suffers from a rare neurological disorder called Landau-Kleffner Syndrome. He's been suffering from this disease for eight years now.  I myself have a rare disease, Adrenal Insufficiency (a disease where the adrenal glands are no longer able to produce cortisol.  Cortisol is a hormone that helps fight illness and is essential for living).  I know first hand how difficult  dealing with a disease, let alone a rare one, can be.  Since being diagnosed and successfully treated for my rare disease (2.5 years now!) I've decided that I would run a race every year for another rare disease.  I feel blessed to be well and grateful that I can medicate and live a fairly normal life.   Last year I ran a half marathon for rare diseases and it was so much fun! It's time to pay it forward again and this year I've upped the mileage and I'm running a 50k in Chicago for LKS!!  I'm running with Braden's Aunt/good friend, Darcy Lawler and another friend Amanda Collins.  This is a solo race, no aide stations, no big crowds cheering us on.  I'm hoping that through this race I can raise awareness for LKS and funding.  Kids like Braden deserve the best start in life and rare diseases are underfunded.  I'm hoping you will contribute and help someone like Braden.  I'm asking people donate their money to one of two organizations: NORD https://www.rarediseases.org/about/support/donate/fg_base_view_p3 or Global Genes Project https://globalgenes.org/give/ and donate in honor of Braden Peiffer.  Your donations will help support research, legislation and research for rare diseases.

If you cannot donate money but feeling inspired then please do something great, donate your time volunteering or raising awareness yourself.  That alone can help someone suffering!

On May 11, 2013 I'm running a 50k and I'm going to run my heart out!