Join me on July 5th for the 10th Annual Running Over MSA 5K! I’ll be running the virtual option from Bridgewater, Massachusetts and you’re welcome to join me there or you can run the virtual option wherever you call home. If you are local to the Chatsworth, Illinois area be sure to take in the event in-person; looks to be another amazing year of events.

Running Over MSA raises funds for Mission MSA, the non-profit working to find a cure for Multiple System Atrophy. My own father has been battling MSA for several years now and finding a cure is not just important to our family but something I am proud to support when I see others working hard to find a cure for MSA.

Mission MSA is devoted to improving quality of life and building hope for people affected by Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) through:

• Providing patients and care partners with trusted and compassionate emotional support.
• Educating patients, care partners, and healthcare professionals with credible, critically important, and relevant information.
• Building a sense of community by connecting and unifying people affected by MSA.
• Funding patient-centric collaborative research aimed at alleviating symptoms, slowing disease progression, and discovering a cure.
• Playing a leading role in raising awareness and advocating for those impacted by the disease.

Running Over MSA was founded by The Dan Cavanagh Memorial Fund, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was started by the family of the late Dan Cavanagh. Dan was a beloved citizen of Chatsworth, IL from the day he was born, St. Patrick’s Day! He was a life-long fan of the Chicago White Sox and the Indy 500, a lifetime member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, and a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Sons of the American Legion and Pheasants Forever – Livingston County.

Dan passed away from Multiple System Atrophy on October 11th, 2015 at the age of 65. Multiple System Atrophy, or MSA, is a terminal neurodegenerative disease that affects both men and women and strikes them in the prime of their life. It slowly and progressively takes away their abilities to walk, talk, swallow, and breathe. MSA is considered a type of parkinsonism but with more widespread effects on the brain and body.

We can all lace up our sneakers and go for a run or walk on July 5th; let’s raise a boatload of money to help find a cure for MSA. Please join with me in running on that day by registering for the race by clicking here.