My Why:
My father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) shortly after I was born. I grew up watching my dad go from walking to needing crutches to needing a wheelchair. It was extremely hard to watch MS take away his bodily autonomy, and I was really young at the time, so I didn’t understand what was going on. When I was 11 years old, I came home from school one day to find that MS had taken my dad earlier that morning. Just like that. He was gone. Growing up watching my dad's journey with MS created a burning curiosity in me to understand what MS is. My yearning to understand MS led me to study Neuroscience in college and work in MS research at Michigan Medicine. I am now in medical school at the University of Colorado learning everything about the human body and finally understanding what it means on a biological level to have MS. My heart aches for my dad, and more recently, I’ve been reflecting on how MS took away his ability to be an able-bodied human. Being able-bodied is a gift that I often take for granted. I am blessed with legs that can run, so I’m fundraising with the National MS Society and running 26.2 miles at the LA Marathon for my dad.
How YOU can help:
My goal—a world free of MS.I’m committed to making an impact and raising important funds that will change the world for everyone affected by MS.
I need your support.Nearly 1 million people in the U.S. live with MS. MS is an unpredictable and often disabling disease of the central nervous system with symptoms that vary from person to person and may include disabling fatigue, mobility challenges and more. While we’ve come a long way in understanding and treating MS, there’s still so much more to do.
I’m counting on you to help me fuel progress! The money you donate will drive groundbreaking research and help the National MS Society continue providing services to people affected by MS, so they can live their best lives. I've set an ambitious goal because I know that with support from people like you, we can ensure everyone living with MS has what they need to take control of their journey.
Join me in ending MS forever!
