Running for Reason

On October 11th, 2009 I will be joining the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy RUN FOR OUR SONS team at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The RUN FOR OUR SONS team is a group of parents, grandparents, families, and friends who will proudly run the 26.2 mile full marathon to help raise funds and awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne), a devastating, progressive muscle disorder which slowly robs those diagnosed of their independence and eventually their life. I will be running this race for Carson DeMarse, who has Duchenne.

This year the RUN FOR OUR SONS team will represent thousands of young men diagnosed with Duchenne. I am participating in this great event because I can and because the Duchenne community needs my strength and endurance to move ahead.

Duchenne is the most common lethal genetic disorder diagnosed during early childhood, affecting approximately 1 out of every 3,500 boys and 20,000 babies born each year. Duchenne causes loss of muscle function and independence. Most young men with Duchenne only live into their twenties, and there is currently no cure.

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is the largest nonprofit organization in the United States focused entirely on Duchenne and is proud to lead the Duchenne community. PPMD strives to improve the treatment, quality of life, and long-term outlook for all individuals affected by Duchenne through research, advocacy, education, and compassion. They uphold the highest ethical and financial standards, and consistently receive high marks from watchdog organizations, including a seal-of-approval from the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance.

If you would like to sponsor my efforts, please make your checks payable to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy or PPMD and clearly mark my name and ‘marathon’ on the memo line. PPMD will issue you a tax deductible receipt for your contribution. If you would like to donate via a credit card, please use the space provided on the envelope to enter your information. (For those folks who are only receiving this letter by email, sorry no envelope for you).You can also visit my personal fundraising page at www. runforoursons. org. Click on the ‘FIND A RUNNER’ link in the left hand column, click the 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, then search for my name. There you will be able to donate via internet, and you can also see my fundraising progress as I get closer to the big event!

Thank you so much for your support and for helping me support the efforts of PPMD. With your generosity and my successful completion of the marathon (fingers crossed!), we will end Duchenne.

Ashleigh Handzus