Hello all! Thanks for visiting my fundraising page. :)

I am proud to say that I will be running the 2012 Chicago Marathon on October 7^th. I started running in 2008 with a walk-to-run program thinking it would help me get in shape, and over the handful of years I’ve gotten in shape and learned to love the sport. I’ve gone from thinking marathons were impossible to signing up and pushing myself to tackle the challenge. I’m thrilled now to work with the Lupus Foundation to support their/our cause and to have them support me towards finishing the 26.2 miles!

Between 2008 and now, though, as I increased my physical fitness level and began achieving activity-related goals, I began to encounter confusing medical situations. I have always been fairly photosensitive, but I started getting sunburned after being in the sun for barely 15 minutes. Then I got red, raised bumps on a few of my fingers and one on my face which earned me trips to the dermatologist who performed skin biopsies. She then sent me to the nephrologist who sent me to the rheumatologist and so on and so forth. After a year+ of tests, involving doctors from five different specialties, and a handful of new symptoms I have my Lupus diagnosis with secondary Raynaud’s syndrome and Alopecia.

I know it confuses some, but I’m glad to have the diagnosis. The symptoms were there anyway, but now I’ve moved from fear of what system will be involved next to doing research and taking ownership of my future. I’m working with my doctors to manage my medications; with a personal trainer, friends, and my running club to continue pushing myself towards new activity achievements; and focusing on prioritizing my life and having fun to control what I can control about my stress levels (I’ve found that last one very important with autoimmune diseases like Lupus!).

I’m still learning about this disease – my diagnosis is still pretty fresh (Oct. 2011). One of the best resources I’ve found is the Lupus Foundation. I think it’s both hilarious and depressing that the medications I’m on are primarily an anti-malarial when I don’t have malaria (to treat my Lupus symptoms) and a blood pressure medication when my blood pressure is totally normal if not low without it (to treat my Raynaud’s). There haven’t been any new Lupus medications developed in many years and many Americans aren’t even familiar with the disease. The Lupus foundation is helping to rectify both of those imbalances. And as such, I hope you’ll join me in raising awareness and money for this cause! Forward this link to your friends and family, post it on Facebook or Twitter - anything to help me towards my goal is appreciated! Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.

Thank you!