I am running to raise funds for and awareness of RSD.
Over the last few years, I have participated in numerous running events to raise awareness of RSD. This has included running monthly marathons (my longest streak was 10 marathons in 10 months) and doing a 40 mile run from Big Spring, Tx. to Midland, Tx.
For 2011, I plan to do the "Ultra Challenge". I will run back to back 50K (31 mile) races in late February. That is 62 miles in 2 days. Wish me luck, but remember 62 miles is a piece of cake compared to what RSD patients faced on a daily basis.
This will be followed by my first attempt at 100 miles in 24 hours or less. 100 miles is also a piece of cake compared to RSD.
Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 - Surfside Beach Ultra Marathon -Surfside Beach, TX. -COMPLETED.
Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011 - Cowtown Ultra Marathon - Ft. Worth, TX. -COMPLETED
Saturday, Sept. 17 - USATF 24-Hour Run, Cleveland, OH: attempting to run 100 miles.
Please consider making a donation to RSDSA directly from this page and/or purchasing a copy of my book (proceeds help fund my race expenses). Here is a link for the book: http://www.wordclay.com/BookStore/BookStoreBookDetails.aspx?bookid=12514 or you may email me at troyrayg@aol.com for information on buying directly from me.
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What is RSD?
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD) - also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) - is a chronic neurological syndrome characterized by:
- severe burning pain
- pathological changes in bone and skin
- excessive sweating
- tissue swelling
- extreme sensitivity to touch
RSD is something that has touched my life on a very personal basis - my
wife Yvette was injured at work a few years back, and developed RSD shortly
after that. She is now permanently disabled (20% according to her Drs) because of this condition. She had a spinal implant (a device that is surgically implanted in her back that has wires running from it to her spine) about a year after her accident to help make the pain "bearable". With the help of this device, her pain level (on a scale of 1 to 10) went from a 9 or 10 to a 3 or 4. Before the implant, she refused to go out in public for fear someone might bump into her. One day, I heard her scream in agonizing pain when an envelope fell on her leg - RSD is pretty wicked stuff. And all of this resulted from a simple fall at work (she slipped on some wax that was left in the floor by the cleaning crew). Her only option at this point is to have the device in her back the rest of her life plus be on heavy medication forever as well. Her life will never be the same again, that is until a cure for RSD is found.
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More Information
For information about RSD and the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
Association, go to: http://www.rsds.org
Thank You to my Off-Line Donators:
1. John Basden (childhood friend of both Yvette and I)...... $100