Braden's Marathon for Myeloma

On December 5th I'm running my first marathon in Sacramento with my girlfriend (and daily running companion), and I want to raise funds towards a cause that's important to me. All proceeds will go to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation with hopes to make progress on research for a type of cancer that has affected my family on both my Mom and Dad's side. My Dad has been managing his myeloma for more than five years, and my grandfather passed last year after battling the disease for a number of years.

 

Anyone who knows me well knows two things:

 

1) I'm a runner, and an avid one at that. I probably drink too much Fieldwork IPA for my body to really show it, but that's besides the point. Running is of course a way for me to stay in shape, as I was a "big-boned" kid growing up (moms lie because they love us), and I don't particularly need to reacquire those love handles from my childhood. I also run to continuously challenge myself and push my physical limits. Yes, running long distances gets a little easier with practice, but anything between miles 3-15 is mostly mental in my experience. Those miles are never effortless, but rather the time and energy you invest in your craft offers you strategies to tune out, stop checking your watch for mileage, escape from everyday stress, and think about anything other than "when will this run be over."

 

2) My dad means the world to me. If I can become even half the man he is, I will have achieved everything I want to in this life. When he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, there weren't many treatment options available, at least not conventional ones. Not only has he beat the odds - an insane man with a dream to live to see his future grandchildren grow up when he was told that would never be possible, but his passion for life and making an impact through humor and compassion is second to none. Of course I am biased; I'm his son. But anyone who knows him shares the same sentiment. I'm talking about a man with zero quit, a man who flew to China for experimental cancer treatment that there were few data points to gather legitimate results on efficacy from, a man who created a life-sized Spongebob Squarepants costume out of a mattress topper and let little-leaguers use a pitching machine to shoot tennis balls at him as an incentive to win games (it worked, and yes, there's photo evidence). So yes, this is a small goal as a fundraising effort to donate to a cause that might be able to save someone else's hero from a horrible disease someday, but to me it's more than that.

 

I will finish this race, and when it gets difficult I will think of everything my Dad has been through to be here today. I'll reflect on all that this incredible legend has given me - which is the whole world at my fingertips to leave my mark on.

 

Standing on your shoulders, Dad.

 

Thank you to everyone who contributes!

 

With love,

Braden