Tag Archives: eb

Half Marathon: Training, Fundraising Update

We’re now 21 days from the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and a very supportive Twitter/Facebook/website crowd has helped me raise $20,504. Since the goal was $20,000 and we shattered that, the focus will now be on $30,000.

Please continue to spread the word and help me raise EB awareness. I’m running in honor of Tripp Roth, the baby from Ponchatoula who recently lost his battle with EB. If you haven’t done so already, please take a moment to read his heart-wrenching story on his mom’s blog.

My training continues to go well. I ran 12 miles on Saturday, my longest run to date. For the week I ran 25.37 miles and averaged 10:08 minutes per mile. I’ve run 113.7 miles year-to-date.

CLICK HERE to donate.

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the Public Service Announcement that’s been running for a few weeks on WDSU.

Half Marathon: Training & Fundraising Update

The Rock n Roll Half Marathon is 26 days away and we’re knocking on the door of hitting our fundraising goal of $20,000. I know I’ve said this before, but the outpouring of support has been overwhelming. I can’t thank all the donors enough.

Here’s a breakdown of donations (as of 2/8 at 12:45 a.m.):
- Online: $14,709
- Checks/Cash: $860
- Massage Envy: $2,500
- The Lemoine Company: $500
- Allstate Insurance: $500
TOTAL: $19,069…or $931 from the goal.

Let’s get to $20,000 and beyond. Visit RunningForTripp.com to donate securely online. Donations can also be mailed. Checks should be made payable to “Debra of America.” I have the organization’s tax ID number for anyone who may need it.

Mail to:
WDSU TV
“Team Tripp”
c/o Scott Walker
846 Howard Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70113

Now to the training. Things are going well and I continue to run relatively pain-free. My weekend “long runs” the past three weeks have been 8, 10 and 11 miles. This Saturday I’ll top out at 12 before tapering off in the final few weeks before the race. I’ll run 6 miles on Wednesday, 4 miles on Thursday then take Friday off before the big run on Saturday. I’m up to 92 miles year-to-date.

A special thanks to Massage Envy (Brian Grenrood), Simply Fit (Hudson Ellis) and my chiropractor (Dr. Dave Edwards) for helping me keep my body functional for the past 6+ weeks of training.

If you haven’t seen it already, take a look at the Team Tripp PSA that has already been viewed nearly 3,000 times. Look for it on WDSU.

Half Marathon: Fundraising Update, PSA & More

Fundraising: So here we are 45 days away from the half marathon and a ton of generous donors have helped me SHATTER the original goal of $5,000. As I type this post, the total raised is just shy of $8,000!

Did I mention we have 45 days left?

I’ve already upped the goal twice…first to $10,000 and now $20,000. Do I think we can hit that? Absolutely. That and more.

The response from people I know and those I’ve never met has been overwhelming. So many people have been touched by Tripp and Courtney’s story and want to do something. To join the Team Tripp project and/or donate, CLICK HERE. “Joining the team” means helping raise money. Once someone joins, all the money raised goes into the same fundraising pot.

PSA: We’ve secured the domain name RunningForTripp.com. It’s easier to remember and redirects to the fundraising page. It’s the web address we use in the PSA that is now airing on WDSU.

Training: I’ve run 15.07 miles so far this week with a long run of 8 miles ahead of me this weekend. Year-to-date I’ve run 37.82 miles. Since October 29th, the day I started focusing on the half marathon, my total is 136.57 miles. My average time is 9:57 per mile.

Excellent work by my chiropractor (Dr. Dave Edwards at Source Chiropractic in Metairie) has gotten me back to running pain-free. He fixed up the strained tendon in my lower left leg that had bothered me for a couple of weeks. He’s like Mr. Miyagi.

The journey continues. I hope you’ll join me!

Tripp Roth: The Fight Continues

Tripp Roth of Ponchatoula fought a brave fight for two years and eight months. He lost his battle with EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa) on Saturday, but the fight for research and a cure continues.

I’m running the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Tripp’s honor, to heighten EB awareness and to raise money for DebRA of America – the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association. DebRA will also donate a portion of the money raised to Tripp’s mom, Courtney.

The race is 50 days away (March 4) and that’s a ton of time to raise more money! With the help of many generous donors, I’ve already raised $2,215 in 13 days. 13 days! When the total reaches $2,500, Massage Envy will match that amount to put us at the goal of $5,000. You know what happens then? I’ll raise the goal to $10,000 and we’ll keep going.

Here’s my plea to businesses: Step up and help out! This is a chance to make a difference by shining a bright light on a terrible disease that most people have never heard of. Do a match — $500, $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 — anything. I’ll put your logo on the back of the “Team Tripp” shirts that’ll be made for race day, one of which I’ll wear in the race. And you’ll  already have a nice tax-deductible donation on the books for 2012.

Please visit my fundraising page HERE and read about EB and Tripp’s story. What he has been through in less than three years will make your heart hurt.

Half Marathon: Training Update

We’re now 57 days from the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon.

I ran 5.5 miles Sunday for my “long” run of the week. I’m battling through some major soreness in my lower left leg right now, but it should be fine in a few days. Hopefully.

The fundraising total has reached $1,680 in just one week! Thanks to the many donors for their tremendous generosity. The goal is $5,000 and we’re 34 percent there!

My running stats:
-  5.50 miles today
- 15.5 miles this week
-  17.71 miles YTD
-  114.48 miles since October 29th
-  9.57 per mile average

CLICK HERE to see why I’m running and please donate if you can. It’s simple, fast and totally secure.

Half Marathon: Help Me Raise Money!

If you have a healthy child…or two or three, please read this. I have two and feel like this is the best way I can help. You can help, too.

I’ve decided to run my first half marathon for Tripp Roth, the little boy in Ponchatoula who suffers from a rare genetic skin disease called EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa) or the worst disease you’ve never heard of.

Tripp has lost eyesight and speech from scarring, breathes with the help of a tracheal tube and takes sedatives to get through the three hours it takes to bathe him every other day. His entire body is wrapped in protective bandages. Tripp hasn’t played outside in more than a year and his mom Courtney spends her days inside their Ponchatoula home, holding him in a rocking chair.

My goal is to raise $5,000 for Debra of America and increase EB awareness. 

Please read Tripp’s heart-wrenching story then visit my fundraising page. No child should have to deal a disease like EB.

Thanks in advance for your support…and help me spread the word!