BECAUSE I CAN
"I run for MS because I can."

On the day of my 45th birthday, I received a call from one of my very best friends, Angie. She and I have been friends since we were 3 years old. "So, I'm going to be running the Philadelphia Marathon in November. I'd like to run it in your honor to raise awareness and funds for MS. What do you think?"

(This is Angie. She'll be running 26.2 miles for MS.)

I was diagnosed with MS a few years back. After losing vision in my right eye, a trip to the ER and an MRI later that revealed the lesions on my brain and spine confirmed the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. And while I live with MS, I also live with hope for a cure. 

Back to Angie's question, "What do you think?" Well, I thought it was the most incredible birthday gift I had ever received. She's been training and racing for some time now. On November 24, Angie will run 26.2 miles in Philadelphia to raise awareness and funds for MS. 

I asked Angie a question in return, "What made you decide to do this?" She replied, "Because I can." She went on to share that on the hard days she runs simply because she can, knowing that there are others who can't. "On the days when I don't want to run, I run... because of you. I run for you. I run for others who can't. I run because I can." 

And while I can't run a marathon, I can run something... that something will be the Rothman Orthopaedics 8K (4.97 miles) in Philadelphia, the day before Angie's race. Inspired by Angie's will to run for me, I will run too. While my vision and balance aren't what they once were, I'll run because I can. 

(This is me, Allié. I'll be running 4.9 miles for MS.)

So, we've started this fundraiser to raise awareness and funds for MS. This is what we're running for. The money we raise through this fundraiser will help fund MS research, programs and services so that people affected by MS can live their best lives. We've set an ambitious goal because we know that with support from people like you, we can get there.

Join us in ending MS forever and donate today.

Sincerely,
Allié

Friends who stick together run together...
because they can.
(Yes, that's Allié and Angie at the age of 3 when they first became friends.)