February is for Fundraising!

While getting back to marathon training has been fantastic, the other piece to this particular marathon is that I am not just running it for me. I am running this marathon with over 30 other individuals from the Run for the Memory Team, running on behalf of their friends and family members who have or had Alzheimer's disease. I started running with this team to honor my grandfather, who passed away in 2005. This year I'm also running for my uncle's mother, Josephine Piraneo, and the many parents and grandparents of friends I have met in my 6 years of involvement with this group.

Alzheimer's disease affects over 5 million Americans and currently, has no cure. While I cannot work in the lab, developing drugs to slow, stop or prevent Alzheimer's disease, I can help raise money to fund those who can as well as the programs and resources to support the patients and families already affected.

So I push my shyness aside for a bit. I ask everyone from my parents to my dentist to consider making a donation. I ask them to donate to help stop Alzheimer's disease from affecting more people or donate to support me as I tackle my 8th marathon. Either way, the Alzheimer's Association benefits.

To date I have raised $2,680!! However, that's only a bit over 1/3 of the way to reaching my goal of $7,500. It still seems a long way away, but then again, so does the finish line during Mile 8 of the marathon. Yet, each time, I've managed to make it to the end. I don't see why this time will be any different.

To donate, please visit http://alz.kintera.org/boston2011/chrissyrunsagain