Welcome to my team page!

On Sunday, November 3, I'm proud to be running as part of Team ALS TDI in the New York City Marathon. I will be running 26.2 miles on behalf of the ALS Therapy Development Institute, an Official Charity Partner. Your donations fuel continuous efforts to advance promising drugs and help end ALS. 

ALS (also known as Motor Neurone Disease or Lou Gehrig’s Disease) is a disease that progressively damages nerve cells in the brain and the spine causing voluntary muscle control to decline until full paralysis.  No one knows what causes it.  It can happen to anyone.  All people with ALS progress differently and at different rates.  But the end is the same.

I am inspired to run by my good friend Ren De Beer.  My son Thomas and Ren’s daughter, Caitlin were born days apart almost 12 years ago when we were living in the UK.  Although work has since driven us to different corners of the globe, his diagnosis of ALS almost 2 years ago and his courage in navigating an almost unthinkable journey has been nothing short of inspirational.

Since diagnosis in late 2017, Ren has chosen to create his own ‘Road’ and his own story.  He started training for Triathlons and with the help of friends has competed a number of races including recently a marathon.  He has travelled the world visiting me and my family in Bangkok, Thailand as ALS continued to impact his independence.

His blog is a record of his journey.

https://www.defeatalswhenitri.com/

No one knows the road that Ren will travel.  I want to run the NY Marathon to raise money to defeat ALS and as a small gesture of gratitude to him for the positive and inspirational impact he has had on me, my family and many others and for every ALS fighter around the world who takes on this disease every day.

Please help me by donating whatever you can.