Tag: fundraiser

Community

My First Migraine Fundraiser Race!

Kerrie Smyres

Miles for Migraine logoHart: “Is this what people normally do on weekends?”

Me: “Right? It feels like we’re on vacation.”

We were walking to get coffee on a Saturday morning. It’s a walk Hart’s taken many times in the six years we’ve lived here, but I’ve never been able to join him. Until a few weeks ago.

Spending time with friends and family, working, exercising, cooking, cleaning my house, eating whatever I want… After 14 years of disability during which I have lived and breathed migraine, being able to do the normal activities of life feels like I’m on constant vacation. The indescribable joy I feel is one reason I will be walking in the two-mile portion of the Miles for Migraine race in Phoenix this Saturday. This is the first walk I’ve been healthy enough to participate in, so I will be celebrating the pleasure of having a body that is now capable of walking a couple miles without keeling over.

I’m also walking for the millions of people whose lives have been rendered unrecognizable by migraine. Far too many of us have spent years buried under this illness. I would still be housebound and nearly bedridden without programs that fund migraine research.

If you’re in town and able to join me, I’d love to see you on Saturday, March 18 (here’s the registration form; March 16 is the last day to register). And if you’d like to donate migraine research—even $5 is a huge help—here’s my Miles for Migraine pledge page. If you work for a company and would like them to match your donation, you can donate through that link and then email shirley[at]milesformigraine[dot]org for details on the follow-up paperwork.

Thank you for being a part of my life. Even if we’ve never met (or even emailed), the support of The Daily Headache readers has been vital to me through these difficult years.You’ll be on my mind during the walk. I wish relief for every one of you and believe that through efforts of programs like Miles for Migraine, it’s possible we will all find a reprieve.
Community

Runnin’ for Research: Raise Money for Headache Disorder Research

Kerrie Smyres

runnin-for-researchOctober 8 is the date to participate in Runnin’ for Research! Three cities will host a 5K run and one-mile walk to raise money for research into headache and migraine disorders.

Runnin’ for Research was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2015. It’s mission is to further “research, awareness, empowerment and advocacy in all areas of headache and migraine disorders.” The organization raised donated $17,434 to the American Migraine foundation in 2015 and $6,313 to AMF in 2014. Dr. David B. Watson, Teri Robert, and Dr. Brian Plato lead Runnin’ for Research.

Here are the details on this year’s races:

Date: Saturday, October 8
Sign-in Time: 8 a.m.
Walk/Run Time: 9:30 a.m.
Registration: $20 (T-shirts are guaranteed for everyone who registers for an in-person race before October 1.) To register, click on the city names below.

  • Kansas City/Parkville, Missouri: English Landing Park, Parkville, MO, 64152
  • Morgantown, West Virginia: Cheat Lake Park, Morgan Run Road Morgantown, WV, 26508 (The course is a packed limestone trail that is largely flat and shaded. It runs along Cheat Lake.)
  • Louisville/Jeffersontown, Kentucky: Sky View Park, 10416 Watterson Trail Jeffersontown, KY, 40299 (The course is a mostly flat asphalt trail.)
  • Virtual Race: Sign up as a virtual runner if you’re unable to attend a race (use any of the registration forms linked to above). You can run or walk in your hometown that day or just donate your registration fee to support this great cause. Virtual runners will not receive T-shirts.

Questions? Visit Runnin’ for Research’s website or email RunninForResearch@yahoo.com for more information.

News & Research, Society

Thank You!

Kerrie Smyres

Many thanks to everyone who donated to my birthday fundraiser to benefit the American Migraine Foundation’s 36 Million Migraine campaign! I appreciate your thoughtfulness and everyone with migraine appreciates your support.

You raised 28% toward the $1,000 goal and the fundraiser is still open. If you haven’t joined us yet, please consider donating today. Your donation doesn’t need to be large. In fact, if every American with migraine donated just $1, $36 million dollars could go to migraine research.

Some astonishing facts about migraine:

  • Migraine is the third most common disorder on the planet.
  • It is the seventh highest cause of of disability globally.
  • It is by far the most disabling neurological condition worldwide.
  • 36 million Americans have migraine. Most have three or fewer attacks each month, but 3% have chronic migraine.
  • Migraine costs the United States more than $20 billion each year in direct medical expenses and indirect expenses, like missed work and lost productivity.
  • Less than 1/20th of 1% of the budget of the National Institutes of Health – about $16 million a year – is allocated to migraine research. $260 million would more accurately reflect the prevalence and magnitude of migraine.