Team Kidney - 2024 Chicago Marathon

Six years ago, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) which sparked a “marathon” of changes in my life.  PKD is a genetic disorder that causes fluid-filled cysts to grow in the kidneys and has impacted my family for generations.  As a child I watched my grandfather receive at home dialysis, facilitated by my grandmother, who took all the necessary training to administer this.  He was eligible for a kidney transplant but due to his age, elected dialysis feeling that a kidney would be better served in someone younger than himself.  Through the years I have seen my uncle, cousins, brothers (Jim & Michael) and mother all receive kidney transplants and was determined to take advantage of my relative youth to make changes in my own life to delay or change outcomes for myself.

The best way to combat this disease is to maintain low blood pressure to slow the growth of the cysts.  Having witnessed my only brother without PKD, (Kevin), complete his first marathon I was determined to start my own journey towards a healthy lifestyle (i.e. beat his time).  So, in February of 2019, I began my exercise journey and by September I was running my first marathon (beat Kevin by more than an hour!).   That is when my running really started to take off and within a few years I had run 7 marathons and time qualified for the Boston Marathon, the pinnacle of the marathon world.  I completed the Boston Marathon this past April and my kidney doctor has told me that my current kidney functioning is that of someone without PKD.

Having reached my goals, it was time for a new purpose in my fitness journey beside health and times.  That is why for the upcoming Chicago Marathon, I am charity runner raising funds for the National Kidney Foundation.  My hope is that, in some small way, I can live up to the courageous example set by my grandfather years ago and  wish that I had gotten to know him even better.

Thank you in advance for your contribution.