Running the Boston Marathon (2018) to Cure Rett Syndrome - #Boston4Rett - Team Sparkle
17A group of seven runners with Team Sparkle of Sparkle Athletic joined together to run the 2018 Boston Marathon in a torrential downpour, in order to raise money and awareness for Rett Syndrome -- a neurological disease that affects mostly girls.
This is our experience.
Different than a typical Boston Marathon charity team, each of us had originally qualified for Boston based on running a qualifying time before joining together to support this important cause. For us, running 189 miles for 189 girls and boys with Rett Syndrome brought more meaning to the experience than simply running on our own.
Thinking of them pushed all seven of us across that finish line.
2018 was a crazy year to run Boston. With heavy rains, freezing temperatures, and intense winds, one out of every twenty runners on the course was unable to finish the race, and thousands were treated for hypothermia (including me, once I thankfully crossed the finish line). But as we ran, the thought of stopping or giving up was never a reality, because we were running this race for something bigger than ourselves.
Rett Syndrome is a rare neurological disease caused by a gene mutation, for which there is currently no cure. It affects mostly girls, though a few boys have also been diagnosed with the condition. Cognitively, those with Rett Syndrome are just like you and me. But physically, they lose mobility, speech, and coordination, and are trapped in bodies that don't allow them to run.
As scientific research and technology progresses, the hope is that we are close to finding a cure, and that someday these boys and girls will be able to run Boston like we did.
Meet the faces we ran for. Or really, the faces that pushed us when it was tough to run.
Speaking for myself, it was an honor to be a part of this team of amazing women, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to support such a worthy cause.
Let's cure Rett.
- Jolie
To learn more about Rett Syndrome or what you can do to help, visit www.girlpower2cure.org
Sparkle Athletic, an athletic wear online retailer that specializes in cute running attire that makes you feel awesome, sponsored the team. To learn more about Sparkle Athletic, #Boston4Rett, or to join Team Sparkle in efforts to help cure Rett Syndrome, visit www.SparkleAthletic.com
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Music Attributions:
Luminous Rain by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100169
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
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