Why I am running

I have decided to join the Run for PKD to help raise funds for polycystic kidney disease. The Run for PKD is the signature fundraising event for PKD patient education and research. And you can join me by making a donation on my behalf.

On Sunday 18th April 2010, I will be in Brighton (UK) to run my first, and hopefully not last, full marathon. After losing my mum to PKD and then discovering I, along with my siblings have the disease, I intend to raise funds to support the PKD foundation's research and development.

Polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases, affecting more people that Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell anemia - combined. Currently there is no treatment and no cure. But there is hope.

The PKD Foundation is here to ensure that someday, no one suffers the full effects of PKD.

The PKD Foundation aggressively seeks to convert: Ignorance into knowledge through high quality patient education materials.
Despair into hope through communications, support groups and research advances. Isolation into community by involvement in more than 70 PKD Foundation chapters and by lobbying congress. Ideas into reality through the research the Foundation funds and through clinical drug trials. Basic science into therapies through translational grants and the charities work with FDA. Small dollars into large dollars by leveraging grants into expanded PKD National Institute of Health (NIH) research through passionate advocacy.

And it is your financial support that makes this all possible. Please help me make a difference by making a donation today!