The first charity party was a success - thanks ever so much to everyone who joined our "Cartoon Characters go Mental" Halloween party :-)
Just to keep you updated.... I've gently (!) started running now, yet taking it quite easy to save my injured knee and to make sure it can cope when the real training begins :-) The first chairty party was so much fun. The next is planned for early February. Watch this space!
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I can't believe I'm doing this.... Running a marathon :-)!
It has been my dream for ever and a magic year 2010 seemed like the best time to stretch my limits!
I also have a very personal cause to do it now. One of my very good friends Janna has got an extremely rare disease called LAM. It's a disease that affects only young women - around one woman in 400,000. Janna's condition has gotten worse since 2004 when she was diagnosted and she now needs to carry an oxygen bottle to be able to live her daily life. I'm determined to make Janna's life better and help the LAM organization find cures for Janna and others!
What is LAM then? LAM affects the lungs causing smooth muscle cells to proliferate. The cells gradually block the airways (breathing tubes), blood vessels and the lymph vessels that drain excess fluid from the lungs. They produce cysts in the lung and fluid around the lung. Patients may also have benign kidney tumours which can bleed.
Women with LAM become gradually more breathless and they may cough up blood or lymph. Most suffer from a collapsed lung at some time and lymph may collect around the lungs. Oestrogen hormones and pregnancy may cause LAM to progress more rapidly. In most cases LAM leads to respiratory failure, dependence on oxygen and death or lung transplant in 10 to 15 years. The sad thing is that there is no really effective treatment at present. Various treatments have been tried, particularly a hormone called progesterone and drugs to reduce the body’s natural oestrogen. These treatments may help some patients a little but they don’t suit all patients and can have side effects.
That's why I need your help to make Janna's life better! With the money raised the LAM Action will be able to
1. Pursue basic research to find the cause for LAM
2. Carry out research to see which treatment is best, and follow through with treatment trials
3. Provide better support for patiens with LAM
I appreciate and thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your pennies for the good cause!!!
Keep on running,
Kirsi
