July 2013 in pictures

One of my favorite things ever.  Thank you Bonnie for your gifts and friendship!

July was a crazy busy month.  I did the Pennies for Parrots fundraiser ($2,000!!  Thanks everyone!!), Vol State, visited my 101 year old Grandma in Virginia and had a birthday.  

The pictures below are in no particular order.

AWESOME birthday present!  I wore these socks at Big's Backyard Ultra in October with some gold gaiters that I made.  These socks make me smile.  Thank you Allison.  I miss you.

Roanoke, Virginia.  "Spiritual Skate Night"  Sounds interesting!

Chad and Chrissy's beautiful boxer, Mosely, who was a very willing participant in my daily mile.  Thanks again Chad and Chrissy for the hospitality!

I am so easy to amuse

My Grandmother's farm in Virginia.  Beautiful.  This picture doesn't do it justice.

During my morning mile at the Farm.

Grandma Margie at the nursing home.  She was too full for food but all over the ice cream.  My weakness for treats is genetic  

A storm rolling in over the Peace River on the 4th of July

DORK.  500th day of my running streak.

Pennies for Parrots wrap up

Sampson (top) and Gemma (bottom) both Moluccan Cockatoos in their new cages



Pennies for Parrots was a huge success for Parrot Outreach Society and the birds despite my inability to complete all of Vol State.  I will post about Vol State in the next couple of days.

I've been totally and completely overwhelmed with gratitude over the generosity of my runner friends, Addison's friends, family and even some donors that we have no idea who they are.  THANK YOU!!!  Together, between PayPal, Fundrazr, cash and checks, we've raised nearly $2,000!!!!  100% of the donations (after PayPal and Fundrazr fees) will go toward cages.  $350 dollars came in AFTER the race was over!!  If you'd still like to donate, please send a check to Parrot Outreach Society, 1105 Taylor Rd, Punta Gorda, FL 33950 or click on the Fundrazr links.

So far, we've gotten three double stack cages as in the picture above.  Enough room for six medium to large birds.  On deck, we are hoping to find two reasonably priced triple stacks for medium/small birds and one quadruple stack for little birds that can be obtained locally.  Shipping cages costs a lot of money so we're trying to avoid it by picking the cages up.

Double stacks getting delivered by Marty, Pam's husband

I cleaned the new cages on Saturday.  All I could think was, "Thank you everyone!  It's so much easier to get the poop cleaned up!"

Here's a picture of the money I picked up on the road and donated.  Missing, 3 $1 bills and a $5 (thanks Joseph Nance!).

Another benefit of this campaign, a bunch of new volunteers!  Volunteers are priceless and we are so grateful for any help.  Many thanks to Dave Stein for the brochure and Heather Nagy for the Press Release.

Thanks to everyone who donated money!  This has been the most wonderful and satisfying fundraiser I've ever done even though the dollar amount is not what I've raised in the past.  The cages are a very tangible, useful item and have improved the quality of life and adoptablity of six birds so far.  By the time all the donations are spent, there will be new cages for about 20 of our birds.  WONDERFUL!!!

What do pennies, parrots and running have to do with one another?

What do pennies, parrots and running have to do with one another? Here's an explanation.

I love running, I love finding money, I love parrots.  Before finding Parrot Outreach Society accidentally, I had no idea that exotic birds were in need of rescuing.  I foolishly assumed that because parrots were beautiful, intelligent and expensive to buy that they wouldn't be given up and if they were, people would be clammoring to take them in as pets.  I was very, very wrong.

When stopping at the strip mall where the Outreach is located, I saw the sign  and thought, "Interesting!  I would like to volunteer.  Maybe they need cleaning help?" I never dreamed that I could actually be more helpful to the Parrot Outreach than to be an A#1 poop cleaner (my specialty despite a college degree).  Pam needed help cleaning, I slowly and gently worked into helping in many other ways as well as adopting a bird of my own.  I'm now the Parrot Outreach Volunteer Coordinator!  I digress.  

The parrots at the Parrot Outreach are almost all domestically bred (except for the old ones), intelligent, beautiful and always in need of socialization.  I'm tearing up writing this, these birds need humans and need homes. The best I can do is give them some part time love.  Pam, the Outreach founder and director, has created a place where these rescued birds can live and be loved until someone can take them on as a new family member.  Many of the parrots live longer than 50 years, they will have seven homes on average.  They will go through the process of being rescued or having new homes so many times in their lives.  Pam has created a safe, clean place for the birds to socialize with humans and get new homes.  Cleaning has a downside, metal cages rust, welds come undone, trays become ruined with repeated cleaning.  The birds need new, cleanable, presentable cages.  As with any 501c3, there's a lot of need and not enough money.  

I cleaned and cleaned the cages on Tuesday and Thursdays for months.  I broke the news to my husband that I was doing Vol State again.  I had to start training.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'd run to the birds and home.  During my runs, I'd find money.  All at once it hit me, Pennies for Parrots.  I could make an incredibly selfish venture much less selfish by running Vol State with a purpose.  We decided to raise money to buy new bird cages.  We are running a fundrazr campaign Pennies for Parrots.  I decided, if nothing else, I could collect pennies during my runs for the birds.  To date, we've raised $1000 toward our $5000 goal!  No matter what happens from here on out, I'm thrilled to have been a part of helping the birds in this way.

Today, Wednesday, July 10th, I'll be on a bus to Union City , TN.  I will try to post to the blog daily.

Love Connection: Oscar

   

Oscar, Orangewing Amazon

314 miles.  100 degrees Fahrenheit.  Outrageous humidity.  Steep mountains.  Trucks roaring by, spewing black exhaust.  Feet pounding the hot asphalt for more than a week.  Why would anyone want to run all the way across Tennessee in July?!?  
 

Dusty Hardman is doing it to raise money to help parrots. 

Click here to read the rest of the press release for Pennies for Parrots!

It's heartbreaking to see all of the wonderful, intelligent birds that need homes.  Parrot Outreach currently has about fifty birds that need one-on-one attention and a family of their own. In the meantime, they live at the Parrot Outreach Society's storefront at 1105 Taylor Road in Punta Gorda, Florida in some well worn cages.  I know I don't know much about birds but I have the opinion that by getting to know and understand a bird BEFORE bringing it into your home can be extremely valuable.  With a baby, you get what you get.  You're stuck.  If you look for a bird (or dog or cat) at a rescue, the caretakers can fill you in on the bird's quirks, strong points and weaknesses so you can match just the right bird with your temperament and that of your family.  If bird adoption is not your thing, consider donating to Parrot Outreach Society via Fundrazr to help replace our well worn cages.

 

Look at me!! 

I’m a mature kind of guy, my name is Oscar and I'm an Orangewing Amazon. I came from my native land to America about 35 yrs. ago. I have lots to share with you and many things to say. This is my second rescue in 5 yrs. The people are great but I’d really prefer to have a home of my own with my very own humans. I love to eat and take baths when I’m not busy expressing myself. I am a woman’s man most of the time but will tolerate another guy in the picture.

Time to eat 

Please consider adopting this bird or help us buy him a new, easy to clean cage (approximate cost $200 to $600 depending upon the type of cage we can afford).  For more information or to visit with Oscar, please call 941-505-2593





Parrot Outreach Society in Punta Gorda, Florida. There's a Facebook page if you want to check it out!  Parrot Outreach Society Facebook page.

Love Connection: Z

  

Hi!  I'm Z, I'm tiny but very spunky!!

 314 miles.  100 degrees Fahrenheit.  Outrageous humidity.  Steep mountains.  Trucks roaring by, spewing black exhaust.  Feet pounding the hot asphalt for more than a week.  Why would anyone want to run all the way across Tennessee in July?!?  
 

Dusty Hardman is doing it to raise money to help parrots. 

Click here to read the rest of the press release for Pennies for Parrots!

It's heartbreaking to see all of the wonderful, intelligent birds that need homes.  Parrot Outreach currently has about fifty birds that need one-on-one attention and a family of their own. In the meantime, they live at the Parrot Outreach Society's storefront at 1105 Taylor Road in Punta Gorda, Florida in some well worn cages.  I know I don't know much about birds but I have the opinion that by getting to know and understand a bird BEFORE bringing it into your home can be extremely valuable.  With a baby, you get what you get.  You're stuck.  If you look for a bird (or dog or cat) at a rescue, the caretakers can fill you in on the bird's quirks, strong points and weaknesses so you can match just the right bird with your temperament and that of your family.  If bird adoption is not your thing, consider donating to Parrot Outreach Society via Fundrazr to help replace our well worn cages.

 

Hi, I’m “Z” and I’m a Greencheeck Conure. I feel like I should have been a Macaw but that’s OK because my personality says I’m as big as a Macaw. I like to play and to hang out on a play stand with you or just sit and get scratches on my head. I am a bit possessive of my cage but you are probably the same way with your house! I like to camp out at night in my tent where I feel safe and secure.

*Z is one of my favorites!  He chirps away like he's telling you a story.  He's very spunky and definitely thinks he's a big bird.

 Dusty kissing me

Please consider adopting this bird or help us buy him a new, easy to clean cage (approximate cost $200 to $600 depending upon the type of cage we can afford).  For more information or to visit with Z, please call 941-505-2593







Parrot Outreach Society in Punta Gorda, Florida. There's a Facebook page if you want to check it out!  Parrot Outreach Society Facebook page.

Love Connection: Nakita

Nakita, Yellow Nape Amazon

  

 314 miles.  100 degrees Fahrenheit.  Outrageous humidity.  Steep mountains.  Trucks roaring by, spewing black exhaust.  Feet pounding the hot asphalt for more than a week.  Why would anyone want to run all the way across Tennessee in July?!?  
 

Dusty Hardman is doing it to raise money to help parrots. 

Click here to read the rest of the press release for Pennies for Parrots!

It's heartbreaking to see all of the wonderful, intelligent birds that need homes.  Parrot Outreach currently has about fifty birds that need one-on-one attention and a family of their own. In the meantime, they live at the Parrot Outreach Society's storefront at 1105 Taylor Road in Punta Gorda, Florida in some well worn cages.  I know I don't know much about birds but I have the opinion that by getting to know and understand a bird BEFORE bringing it into your home can be extremely valuable.  With a baby, you get what you get.  You're stuck.  If you look for a bird (or dog or cat) at a rescue, the caretakers can fill you in on the bird's quirks, strong points and weaknesses so you can match just the right bird with your temperament and that of your family.  If bird adoption is not your thing, consider donating to Parrot Outreach Society via Fundrazr to help replace our well worn cages.

 

 

Hello, my name is Nakita and I am a Yellow Nape Amazon. I have lived the bachelor life with my human for 29 yrs., sadly he found a wife but I didn’t, guess that’s because I really don’t like women much. I’d like to have a new Dad to share my life with. A Mom would be OK as long as she admired me from afar. A man can never be admired too much.  I want a man willing to listen when I talk and preferably one who likes the song Roxanne!  I have a HUGE vocabulary and speak very clearly.  I say very amusing things!

Please consider adopting this bird or help us buy him a new, easy to clean cage (approximate cost $200 to $600 depending upon the type of cage we can afford).  For more information or to visit with Nakita, please call 941-505-2593







Parrot Outreach Society in Punta Gorda, Florida. There's a Facebook page if you want to check it out!  Parrot Outreach Society Facebook page. 

Love Connection: Jazz

Jazz, Scarlet macaw

   314 miles.  100 degrees Fahrenheit.  Outrageous humidity.  Steep mountains.  Trucks roaring by, spewing black exhaust.  Feet pounding the hot asphalt for more than a week.  Why would anyone want to run all the way across Tennessee in July?!?  
 

Dusty Hardman is doing it to raise money to help parrots. 

Click here to read the rest of the press release for Pennies for Parrots!

It's heartbreaking to see all of the wonderful, intelligent birds that need homes.  Parrot Outreach currently has about fifty birds that need one-on-one attention and a family of their own. In the meantime, they live at the Parrot Outreach Society's storefront at 1105 Taylor Road in Punta Gorda, Florida in some well worn cages.  I know I don't know much about birds but I have the opinion that by getting to know and understand a bird BEFORE bringing it into your home can be extremely valuable.  With a baby, you get what you get.  You're stuck.  If you look for a bird (or dog or cat) at a rescue, the caretakers can fill you in on the bird's quirks, strong points and weaknesses so you can match just the right bird with your temperament and that of your family.  If bird adoption is not your thing, consider donating to Parrot Outreach Society via Fundrazr to help replace our well worn cages.

 

My name is Jazz. Just look at my jazzy colors and you will know where my name came from. I like a Momma best of all but a Dad is OK too. I have temper tantrums sometimes and bite my own leg. I really had the humans fooled for awhile by saying owww after I bit my leg, they are so gullible! I take a bit to warm up to new people but some I am drawn to like a magnet.  I can stick my tongue out and make fart noises.

Please consider adopting this bird or help us buy him a new, easy to clean cage (approximate cost $200 to $600 depending upon the type of cage we can afford).  For more information or to visit with Jazz, please call 941-505-2593







Parrot Outreach Society in Punta Gorda, Florida. There's a Facebook page if you want to check it out!  Parrot Outreach Society Facebook page.

Love Connection: Bennie

   

Bennie posing for the camera at Parrot Outreach

314 miles.  100 degrees Fahrenheit.  Outrageous humidity.  Steep mountains.  Trucks roaring by, spewing black exhaust.  Feet pounding the hot asphalt for more than a week.  Why would anyone want to run all the way across Tennessee in July?!?  

 

Dusty Hardman is doing it to raise money to help parrots. 

Click here to read the rest of the press release for Pennies for Parrots!

It's heartbreaking to see all of the wonderful, intelligent birds that need homes.  Parrot Outreach currently has about fifty birds that need one-on-one attention and a family of their own. In the meantime, they live at the Parrot Outreach Society's storefront at 1105 Taylor Road in Punta Gorda, Florida in some well worn cages.  I know I don't know much about birds but I have the opinion that by getting to know and understand a bird BEFORE bringing it into your home can be extremely valuable.  With a baby, you get what you get.  You're stuck.  If you look for a bird (or dog or cat) at a rescue, the caretakers can fill you in on the bird's quirks, strong points and weaknesses so you can match just the right bird with your temperament and that of your family.  If bird adoption is not your thing, consider donating to Parrot Outreach Society via Fundrazr to help replace our well worn cages.

 

I am Bennie and I’m a young 15 yr old Hahn’s Macaw. I am the smallest of the Macaws but my personality and attitude make up for my lack of size. I will tell you how I love you and how I’m Mamma’s baby boy. I can get in a mood sometimes but generally I’m pretty good boy. I love to play with my toys and will eat most anything you give me. I am used to having full flight but that is negotiable if you make it up to me with treats.

 

Please consider adopting this bird or help us buy him a new, easy to clean cage (approximate cost $200 to $600 depending upon the type of cage we can afford).  For more information or to visit with Bennie, please call 941-505-2593







Parrot Outreach Society in Punta Gorda, Florida. There's a Facebook page if you want to check it out!  Parrot Outreach Society Facebook page.

Love Connection: Mr. P

Mr. P

  314 miles.  100 degrees Fahrenheit.  Outrageous humidity.  Steep mountains.  Trucks roaring by, spewing black exhaust.  Feet pounding the hot asphalt for more than a week.  Why would anyone want to run all the way across Tennessee in July?!?  

Dusty Hardman is doing it to raise money to help parrots. 

Click here to read the rest of the press release for Pennies for Parrots!

It's heartbreaking to see all of the wonderful, intelligent birds that need homes.  Parrot Outreach currently has about fifty birds that need one-on-one attention and a family of their own. In the meantime, they live at the Parrot Outreach Society's storefront at 1105 Taylor Road in Punta Gorda, Florida in some well worn cages.  I know I don't know much about birds but I have the opinion that by getting to know and understand a bird BEFORE bringing it into your home can be extremely valuable.  With a baby, you get what you get.  You're stuck.  If you look for a bird (or dog or cat) at a rescue, the caretakers can fill you in on the bird's quirks, strong points and weaknesses so you can match just the right bird with your temperament and that of your family.  If bird adoption is not your thing, consider donating to Parrot Outreach Society via Fundrazr to help replace our well worn cages.

I am what’s called a Whitecap Pionus, just look at my beautiful white head feathers! I don’t much like bare hands in my cage but will gladly step up onto a nice soft towel. I just don’t want human cooties in my house! I am happy to sit on your arm or shoulder without the towel once we are out of my house. I do have a few things to talk to you about if you have the time. I really need and want lots of head and neck scratches too.

Please consider adopting this guy or help us buy them a new, easy to clean cage (approximate cost $250 to $500 depending upon the type of cage we can afford).  For more information or to visit with Mr. P, please call 941-505-2593

Mr. P is telling Pam something.  He's always got something to say! 



Mr. P getting comfortable on the perch

Relaxing at the Parrot Outreach

Love Connection: Tinker and Peppey

Peppey, a Blue and Gold macaw with his wife Tinker, a Greenwing macaw

   314 miles.  100 degrees Fahrenheit.  Outrageous humidity.  Steep mountains.  Trucks roaring by, spewing black exhaust.  Feet pounding the hot asphalt for more than a week.  Why would anyone want to run all the way across Tennessee in July?!?  
 

Dusty Hardman is doing it to raise money to help parrots. 

Click here to read the rest of the press release for Pennies for Parrots!

It's heartbreaking to see all of the wonderful, intelligent birds that need homes.  Parrot Outreach currently has about fifty birds that need one-on-one attention and a family of their own. In the meantime, they live at the Parrot Outreach Society's storefront at 1105 Taylor Road in Punta Gorda, Florida in some well worn cages.  I know I don't know much about birds but I have the opinion that by getting to know and understand a bird BEFORE bringing it into your home can be extremely valuable.  With a baby, you get what you get.  You're stuck.  If you look for a bird (or dog or cat) at a rescue, the caretakers can fill you in on the bird's quirks, strong points and weaknesses so you can match just the right bird with your temperament and that of your family.  If bird adoption is not your thing, consider donating to Parrot Outreach Society via Fundrazr to help replace our well worn cages.

We are a happily married Macaw pair. I’m Peppy, the big blue guy and this is my wife, Tinker, the beautiful red lady. We are a bit different but they opposites attract. I am a Blue & Gold Macaw and Tinker is a Greenwing Macaw. I am very outgoing where Tinker is a bit shy. We both love head scratches and hanging out on play stands. We have been together since we were babies and are not looking to become divorced. Just think, if you bring us home, you get double the love! We are both a young 10 yrs. of age, just babies since we live to be 80 yrs. old.

Please consider adopting this couple or help us buy them a new, easy to clean cage (approximate cost $700 to $1,200 depending upon the type of cage we can afford).  For more information or to visit with Tinker and Peppey, please call 941-505-2593



Peppey



 Tinker

Peppey and Tinker



Parrot Outreach Society in Punta Gorda, Florida. There's a Facebook page if you want to check it out!  Parrot Outreach Society Facebook page.

Love Connection: Skava

Skava, a Blue and Gold Macaw

Pennies for Parrots Press Release

I'm running (walking, crawling, crying) Vol State again, 314 miles across Tennessee starting on July 11th, 2013.  Why?  Well, it took me 8.5 days to complete it last year and I think I can do better.  It's a tremendously selfish thing to go so far for so long.  I am trying to make it a little less selfish by doing the run and training to raise money for the parrots at Parrot Outreach Society in Punta Gorda, Florida. There's a Facebook page if you want to check it out!  Parrot Outreach Society Facebook page.

I've been volunteering out Parrot Outreach since December.  In that short time, I've learned to feed birds, handle birds, wrangle birds and how to capture them in the great outdoors when they've escaped or been released from their home.  I've also become a bird owner! 

It's heartbreaking to see all of the wonderful, intelligent birds that need homes.  Parrot Outreach currently has about fifty birds that need one-on-one attention and their own families. In the meantime, they live at the Parrot Outreach Society's storefront at 1105 Taylor Road in Punta Gorda, Florida.  I know I don't know much about birds but I have the opinion that by getting to know and understand a bird BEFORE bringing it into your home can be extremely valuable.  With a baby, you get what you get.  You're stuck.  If you look for a bird (or dog or cat) at a rescue, the caretakers can fill you in on the bird's quirks, strong points and weaknesses so you can match just the right bird with your temperament and that of your family.




Here's a beautiful Blue and Gold macaw that you might just consider adopting.  If bird adoption is not your thing, consider donating to Parrot Outreach Society via Fundrazr to help buy him a new cage.  His name is Skava.

Skava is a young bachelor looking for a new family. In just a few years, he has already had two owners.  His first owner was moving and could not take him with her so she placed him in a home with another family which was not prepared for what comes with owning a large macaw. He is an affectionate bird with a great vocabulary and just wants to be loved! Skava loves to laugh, play peekaboo and say, "Wooo, wooo" in to his food bowl. He gets lots of attention, toys and love at the rescue but it's just not the same as having a permanent home and loving family. Please consider adopting this handsome boy or help us buy him a new, easy to clean cage (approximate cost $400 to $800 depending upon the type of cage).  For more information or to visit with Skava, please call 941-505-2593

Fast and Furious





Fast and Furious, that's what's been happening and what will continue to happen through July.  There's so much I want to say about so many different topics.  Some will be interesting to some people and some things will be interesting to others.  Once again, this blog is mostly for me :)  This is as close as I come to keeping a journal.  I will be posting A LOT in the next eight weeks.  I will not be offended if you decide you don't want to read!  Each topic will be bolded so you can skip through and find the topics that interest you.

LANDAU-KLEFFNER SYNDROME/MILES FOR MOFFIT 50K, MAY 11, 2013

Chicago girls after finishing their 50k!

Florida AI girls (thanks for coming out J!)

Molly Forsythe put together a 50k run for LKS in Chicago.  Molly has Adrenal Insufficiency and this was her first ultra distance.  Another Addisonian and I ran Miles for Moffit in Tampa, I did it as a "virtual" run with Molly and her gals.  Impressively, three Addisonian's did the 50k distance on May 11 (H and I did it the 11/12 because the race started at 7pm).

MOLLY RAISED $5,000 FOR LKS!!!!!!!

UPDATE

Zane and Pam at Parrot Outreach

WE FINALLY HAVE FLOOR!

Bahia Honda Key

Marathon Key, my boy is putting up with me being silly

I will try to be brief.  Three months after our initial water leak and 2 or 3 other water problems in different parts of the house, we have a floor!  We have moved all of our furniture off the lanai, out of the bathtub and out of the bedroom.  Whew!  My son came to visit and we've been adventuring around.  It's so wonderful to see him.  I haven't seen him for 1.5 years.  He crewed us at our race, we "camped" in the Keys and Everglades and now we are exploring Charlotte County.  He's joined me and Pam at Parrot Outreach.  Yesterday, Zane and I went out to the beach to rescue an escaped Blue and Gold Macaw! 

I will be posting pictures from the last few months, a few rants and a few bird bios.  I'm doing Vol State again as a fundraiser for the Parrot Outreach!  We are raising money for new cages.  Why am I not raising money for adrenal insufficiency?  Because I'm tired of it and the politics.  The parrots are refreshing and I will see the benefits of my fundraising as will the birds!



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50K RUN IN CHICAGO, TAMPA OR VIRTUALLY FOR LANDAU-KLEFFNER SYNDROME - CHICAGO ROUTE UPDATE

To those of you who are interested: 

The route has been changed to the Chicago Lakefront - we'll now be running 31.1 miles along beautiful Lake Michigan on the Lakeshore Drive Bike Path but we're still planning on ending at Buckingham Fountain.  http://runkeeper.com/user/MollyMcForsythe/route/2090812

Start time will be at 6am just south of Buckingham Fountain, heading north towards Rogers Park and then looping back south towards 57th street (Museum of Science & Industry).  Then back north to the fountain.  Parking is free near Montrose Beach as well as the Southside Cultural Center along the lake.  OR if you're a city dweller you can hop on your bike, walk or run over to meet us.  If you are interested in joining us feel free to email me or just pop over to the bike trail and we'll be in pink t.shirts running our hearts out!!

On May 11th Darcy Lawler (Braden's Aunt), Amanda Collins, Dusty Hardman (running from her hoe state of FL), Terri Preast (running from her home state of TN), Courtney Anderson and I are running for Landau-Kleffner Syndrome and we're going to run our hearts out!

DONATIONS ARE STILL BEING TAKEN IN HONOR OF BRADEN PEIFFER AND LKS:

https://www.rarediseases.org/about/support/donate/fg_base_view_p3

https://globalgenes.org/give/

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-930698

http://lksrun50k.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/molly.m.forsythe?ref=tn_tnmn

50K RUN IN CHICAGO, TAMPA OR VIRTUALLY FOR LANDAU-KLEFFNER SYNDROME

Braden Peiffer

There will be no formal aid stations, no crowds cheering. This race is in honor of an eight year old boy, Braden Peiffer, who has the burden of living with this disease with no cure in sight. Braden has a little known disease called Landau-Kleffner Syndrome (a pediatric neurological disease that affects language in children).

LINK TO THE PRESS RELEASE for this race on CNN's iReport

Race Day in Chicago 6 am start time (FREE):

We'll be starting on the Prairie Path Trail (http://www.ipp.org/pdf/IPP-free-map-color.pdf) on the Aurora Branch which will feed into the main brain branch.  We'll be taking that to where the trail ends in Maywood on 1st Avenue.  From 1st Avenue we'll be heading north over to Madison and then making our way east over to Harlem.  North on Harlem to Lake Street and from there we'll be running east straight to Buckingham Fountain for a total of 31.1 miles: (http://runkeeper.com/user/MollyMcForsythe/route/2028678)

Race Day in Tampa 7 pm start time (FEE TO DO MILES FOR MOFFIT):

 I'm (Dusty here) will be running Miles for Moffit and will do a minimum of 50k for Braden, join me if you want to!!  307-413-7318 if you want to ask questions or want to tell me you will be joining me. 

Race Day in your neck of the woods (FREE!), start time flexible:

Just do 50k and contact either Molly or me to let us know you did it too, your mileage and where you did it.  We'd be thrilled to know that you did it too.

Donations are still being taken in honor of Braden Peiffer:

National Organization for Rare Diseases

the global genes project

 For more information:

http://lksrun50k.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/molly.m.forsythe?ref=tn_tnmn

http://runkeeper.com/user/MollyMcForsythe/route/2028678