I run because I CAN!!!

I have two goals this year:

1) To raise at least $5,000.00 for the National Stroke Association, to fund research on this disease (I have less than two weeks to raise this amount); and

2) To continue my goal of making young people aware that strokes do not just affect the elderly.  Since my massive stroke in June 2003, I have met many young, healthy men and women with no apparent risk factors who have been impacted by a stroke.  More than 100,000 young and middle-aged women will have a stroke this year.  Stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer.  Approximately 30% of those who have strokes are under the age of 45.

Strokes are life-altering. and are the number one cause of disabilities in the United States.  Disabilities, such as:  paralysis, speech aphasia, learning lapses, blindness, depression and excruciating nerve pain.   I am aware of each of these, and I am only battling one of those disabilities now:  nerve pain.  Running takes my mind off the pain and helps me move forward.  There is no cure for the nerve pain, but I remain hopeful.  

If you are able to donate any amount, I will be forever grateful.  Together we can make great strides (pun intended) in funding research.  I will be running 26.2 miles through the streets of New York City as a stroke survivor, in memory of my grandmother Mary Rose Mitrage, who was paralyzed from stroke, and in honor of the caregivers of stroke survivors (like my family), the doctors and nurses who saved my life and the speech and occupational therapists who spent countless hours teaching me how to walk and talk again.   I also will run in honor of, or in memory of, anyone that you request.  I will be attaching blue ribbons to my racing singlet for each name.  

Many thanks for your support.  Don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!