Happy 2020! I hope this post finds you healthy and happy in the new year.

I am so excited to be writing to you today. I’ve been reflecting so much on this past year, as well as the past four years of Running for Nana. Because of you, a dream to run a marathon, celebrate my Nana, and fight back against C. difficile became a reality and has transformed into something I could never have imagined. Here are some of the highlights from last year alone.

In 2019, 38 people joined our Second Annual Achieving Cures Together team at the Colfax Marathon weekend to “Run for Nana” and fight back against C. difficile, plus many more who came to cheer everyone on. Folks joined us from Colorado, Texas, Illinois, and Minnesota, including the founder of ACT, Peter Westerhaus, who ran the 10-mile race! By some great coincidence, Peter and I finished our races right around the same time.

The team grew so much last year that we qualified for our very own Achieving Cures Together tent in the Charity Village. It was an indescribable feeling to look around and see so many people that I love so much crowded together in those blue ACT shirts, getting to know each other and spreading awareness of C. diff. She would be so grateful to each and every one of you and absolutely floored by the progress you’re supporting to help end C. difficile.

Before I announce our 2020 adventure, I want to celebrate some highlights of that progress. Since 2016 we’ve partnered with Achieving Cures Together (ACT) and Dr. Alexander Khoruts from the University of Minnesota’s Microbiota Therapeutics Program (MTP) – two of the leaders in C. difficile research. Thanks to the incredible generosity of so many, we’ve now raised over $80,000 for the MTP and ACT since we started. Because of philanthropic support:

• Over 590 patients with recurrent C. diff that could not be cured with standard antibiotics have been successfully treated at the University of MN through the fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) procedure – all at no cost to the patient. In 2020, the team hopes to share the treatment with clinicians across the US.
• The MTP developed capsules of the FMT treatment, making it more accessible to fight recurrent C. diff.
• As the team has expanded and manufacturing costs have come down, they have increased their ability to provide the capsules for critical clinical trials. The team manufactures the therapeutic microbiota in accordance with GMP protocols, which are required for all pharmaceuticals.
• There are five active research trials utilizing the treatment including the MATCH Trial, which is a multi-center, placebo-controlled study at the VA. This is the largest study of its kind. The team continues to explore uses for the treatment beyond C. diff, and the other active trials are for patients with advanced liver disease, autism, ulcerative colitis, and intensive chemotherapy.
• The MTP also has 3 additional research trials expected soon.

This progress would not have been possible without each of you and we cannot thank you enough for being part of these advancements!

So…that brings us to 2020!!

I am thrilled to launch our Third Annual Achieving Cures Together team that will “Run for Nana” (or walk or handcycle) in the Colfax Marathon Weekend, May 16th-17th, 2020! Most importantly, I would like to invite YOU to join our team!

Now, before you get nervous, don’t worry. You don’t have to run a marathon. You don’t even have to run a half marathon. There are 5 races to choose from. An overview of each is below, and you can click the name of the race to learn more:

The 5K race is on Saturday, May 16th and all other races take place on Sunday, May 17th. In whatever way you feel most comfortable, we would love to have you as part of this very fun race weekend.

To register, simply click this link and choose the race that suits you best! Once in the registration page, just click “Yes” to “Raising funds or awareness for a charity,” and then select Achieving Cures Together (ACT) from the drop down menu that appears. It should look something like this:

​

Then you’ll be on the team, and you’ll get an email from me soon after you register with more details. Also, if you register before 11:59 pm on January 29th, you’ll get the early price! Thank you SO much for considering being a part of our Team.

Now, all that said, I completely understand if running isn’t your thing. If you still want to “Run for Nana” and help us fight C. diff, please visit How Can I Help? or our team fundraising page (link below). Our goal this year is to raise $20,000 in our Third Annual Colfax Race Weekend, and all dollars raised will go directly to Achieving Cures Together and their fight against C. diff and other awful conditions.  ACT Fundraising Page here: https://www.achievingcures.com/colfaxmarathon!

More to come soon but until then, please feel free to add your email to the “follow” box on the blog to be updated whenever there’s a new post. Here’s to you, Nan!