Run for Parkinson's

As many of you know, my dad has been living with Parkinson's Disease for the last 30 years.  Parkinson's Disease is a neurological condition caused by a loss of the neurotransmitter dopamine, necessary for muscle control and characterized by movement difficulties such as tremor, posture and balance problems, and muscle rigidity that become more debilitating over time.  He will be 70 in May, and he continues to live a remarkably full life for anyone his age, much less someone who has been battling Parkinson's Disease for 30 years.  


As a family, we consider ourselves blessed in so many ways, but having lived through this and having experienced the awful effects the disease has had - not only on my dad, but on our whole family, we really hope that a cure can be found so that other families and individuals do not have to go through this.  


And so ... Matt and I are running the Houston Chevron Marathon on January 17th to raise money for HAPS - the Houston Area Parkinson's Society (website link to the right/top).  


We began a six-month training program this summer, and are getting in shape for the run.  Matt is looking to take the men's top honors, and I'm sure I'll be right behind him!  Of course, I'm only joking.  We will be excited to finish the race as neither one of us has run a marathon before.  I will use this blog to update you on our running progress and on our fundraising efforts.  I will also write a little about living with Parkinson's Disease.  


Please visit the link to the right/top of the page "Donate to support our run!" if you'd like to make a contribution.


Thanks, and keep checking back as race day catches up with us!


Claire