I can't begin to imagine what it would be like to see one of the strongest people you know eventually have to depend on everyone else. My best friend Hayley taught me that even the strongest people need the help of their friends sometimes, whether or not they ask, which is why I decided to run alongside her in this year's Rock n' Roll Marathon in order to raise money and awareness to find a cure for Huntington's Disease.

Huntington's disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that causes brain cells to die, destroying all of a person’s physical and mental abilities. Children of a parent with HD have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. Currently there is no cure for this devastating illness. If you'd like to learn more about HD, please visit www.hdsa.org for more information.

Hayley's mother, Ramona, was diagnosed with HD in 1999, completely unaware of any trace of HD in her family. Mona moved into a 24 hour nursing facility in 2005 and has lost her ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow, etc. She was put on a feeding tube 2 years ago. The Johnstons never saw this coming yet have handled it with grace and have faced the disease head on with courage, doing everything in their power to find a cure. For personal reasons, Hayley has chosen not to be tested. For the sake of my best friend and the thousands of families who suffer from or witness this crippling illness first hand, I have no choice but to believe in a cure and do everything in my power to ensure one is found.

Without many resources, I am turning to my friends and family for fund-raising. After years of being inspired by the impact the Johnstons have had on the HD community, waiting at the finish line is no longer enough... I've decided to run in return for your financial support. I understand that this is a tough time for many of you, but any donation is considered generous.... in fact it means the world to us. If you are unable to donate or can only give a little I ask that you forward this to everyone in your address book and ask them to do the same. With your help we can make this the last generation of HD!

Your contribution is tax deductible (Tax ID 13-3349872). I will proudly wear your name on my back and be grateful every step of the way.

Again, any amount means the world to myself and families like my best friend's! THANK YOU!