2013 Here I Come!

"Run?  Are you kidding?  I get winded putting socks on in the morning!"

Running is for those crazy fit people with their Neon Coats and fancy water bottle belts, not us "Pleasantly Plump" folk who prefer to drink Diet Pepsi, or Wine! I`m not kidding, I get winded putting on socks!  How am I ever going to pick up running? 

I'll tell you how, by running for a Purpose!  What's my purpose you ask?  Simple, My Dad!

My Dad has suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis, my whole life and most of his.  I have no memory as a child of him not on Crutches.  They were as much a part of him as the Beard he always wore.  He had so many surgeries in his life I don't think the doctors can keep track.  In July of 2011  he slipped and fell in the driveway, the result was a Spiral Femur Fracture.  Because his bones are so brittle from the Arthritis, he nearly twisted his leg off! A fall that would leave any normal person with just a bruise! It is now January 2013 and my Father has been in and out of Hospital for a year and a half with complications from this break.  The latest of which is an infection that got into his blood and caused him to be admitted to Hospital in November in Quebec and they say he could be in for at least 2 more months and up to 9 more!

My Dad having to spend Christmas in the hospital in a different province is what started this whole thing for me.  I started to think, How is it with 2013 just around the corner, that we have not found a cure for Arthritis, not come up with some type of therapy or treatment to help build back up the bone structure and help the people who are suffering.  I decided that this year I am going to make a commitment to help raise awareness of Arthritis.

Did you know that 4.6 Million Canadians suffer from Arthritis?  And that 1 in every 1000 are Children?  There are over 100 types of Arthritis and it can strike anyone at anytime, regardless of age, physical condition or ethnic background.

Joints in Motion is The Arthritis Society's largest Fundraiser.  over 5500 people have raised over $33 million since 1999 to fund arthritis research to benefit the 4.6 million Canadians with arthritis.  This year I have decided to be one of those people! 

I will take on this Venture, and I invite you to follow along with me as I get my butt off the couch and out into the world!  I have started my Fundraising Campaign and if all goes well I will be running a 10K race in Costa Rica in September and will have raised $6000 to help the Arthritis Society find a cure!

I encourage you to check out www.jointsinmotion.ca to get more info on the program and maybe even sign up yourself!  I will also link you to my Personal Page and if you find you are in a position to help me out, please sponsor me!  Any amount is appreciated!  Big or Small it all helps!

http://JointsInMotion.kintera.org/newfoundlandlabrador/tracieboudreault

So there you have it!  That's what I'm up to!  I hope you follow along with me on this crazy Journey.  I'm sure there will be lots of ups and downs.  Hope to see you all along the way!

Tracie