Hello friends,
Some of you may have heard that I am raising funds to support the Myelin Repair Foundation. This organization is changing the way that drug research and collaboration between academics and pharmaceutical companies occurs. They have accomplished amazing things in just 5 years of existence. In short they have found a mechanism and method to increase speed-to-market for the treatment of myelin repair.
What is myelin? Myelin is sheath-like coating around the axon of the neuron. This is essential for proper functioning of the nervous system (read more about Myelin at wikipedia.org). Why am I interested in this? Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that attacks a persons nervous system leading to demyelination (destruction of the myelin sheath).
Multiple Sclerosis has been highly impactful on my life. My father was diagnosed with MS in the late 60s while serving in the US Army. Subsequently I was born in 1972 and grew up watching the progression of this disease ravage both his mind and body. Unfortunately he passed away in 2005 due to various health complications. Since then I have searched for a meaningful way to contribute to the current and future state of developing treatments and cures for MS. I came across the Myelin Repair Foundation (MRF) and found an organization that was taking an incredibly innovative approach to making this happen.
To that end I am raising funds to support MRF. How? By raising awareness of the foundation, myelin research and MS. From now through Thanksgiving I am looking to friends, family and strangers to help raise money to support this incredible organization in achieving its goals. Personally I plan on completing three 3 major events this fall in hopes of raising awareness of MRF:
- Akron Marathon (26.2 miles) in September
- Baltimore Marathon (26.2 miles) in October
- JFK Ultramarathon (50 miles) in November
I am pushing myself farther than I've gone before, to make others aware of the daily challenge faced by those with MS. Along the way I will be updating this blog regarding MRF developments, my training, race day and any other events that come from this experience. I am asking you to consider contributing whatever you can to this cause. Additionally, please pass on this link to others (e-mail, post to Facebook, etc.). MRF is at the forefront of accelerating the drug discovery process to bring treatments to market in less time than ever thought possible. I challenge you to be part of this experience, to make then impossible possible and ultimately create a better future.
Sincerely,
Dennis O. Smith
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
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