Run for Izzo
In Loving Memory of Jeremy D. Izzo
1981 - 2010
BACKGROUND
My name is Mindy Izzo and I am starting a group that raises money for the National Marfan Foundation in memory of my late husband, Jeremy Izzo who passed away suddenly in October of 2010 due to a heart condition related to Marfan Syndrome. To say Jeremy was an amazing person is an understatement as there just are not words express how wonderful and compassionate he was as a teacher, coach, friend, brother, son, husband or most importantly - a father to our daughter Addison, and hopefully through this amazing organization - we can help others who have been diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome.
Marfans is the condition that Jeremy was diagonosed with when he was 15 years old. It is a rare disease that affects the connective tissue in the body. To find out more information, please visit www.marfan.org.
A little over a year ago, a group of my friends and I decided that we wanted to run to raise money for a good cause. We'd heard about these people raising money by running for a group or cause, and thought this would be a great idea. I talked to Jeremy about doing this with the National Marfan Association, just to make sure he was OK with it, and he was surpringly really excited about it, however it was put on "hold" for the time being.
Shortly after Jeremy passed away, my good friend Kristin Gabrys ran in the NIKE Women's marathon in San Francisco with the words "Run for Izzo marfan.org" all 26.2 miles. I was so inspired by this - that I decided to start the "Run for Izzo" group that you are now all a part of! With your help, we've created red, dry-fit running shirts with the front of the shirt saying "JDI" with a heart, (the tatoo that Jeremy's mom, my mom, and I have) and the back is the same as Kristin's shirt "Run for Izzo, marfan.org"
PURPOSE
My goal is to raise money and awareness for the National Marfan Association doing one of the few things I know how to do: running.
The idea is - each time a member of Run for Izzo participates in a race - he or she will ask for sponsors. People can sponsor a race via DIRECT donations to this site.
These races can be anywhere/anytime you do not have to attand a certain "race" to be a part of the organization. There will be 4 "team races" throughout the year and the idea is to get as big of a group out as possible to again, promote awareness and meet other teams members. These races are located in places that were special to Jeremy. They are as follows:
4/26/2012 - 4/28/2012 - Champaign, IL "Christie Clinic Race Series" http://illinoismarathon.com/
6/?/2012 - Brookfield, IL "Brookfield Zoo Run Wild"
Date TBA (spring-summer 2012) - Winston-Salem, NC
GET INVOLVED!
Not a member of Run for Izzo but would like to be? Please email RunforIzzo@gmail.com for t-shirt info/membership information.
You don't have to be a runner to participate/order a shirt, again the whole goal is to raise money and awareness. Even if you wear it to the grocery store, someone is going to see it, and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the National Marfan Foundation in Loving Memory of Jeremy Izzo. Each shirt order includes a $10 donation to the NMF
Again thank you for being a part of this amazing cause, I have recieved so much support and enthusiasm about this event - it just goes to show the affect Jeremy had on so many of us in such a short time. From the bottom of my heart - I thank you for your love and support.