From Survivor to Marathon Fundraiser
“In 2012, I experienced the worst and best year of my life," says Ronda. "In one week, I gave birth to twins, nearly lost one of them, and experienced my first hurricane. The following weeks brought rare disease diagnoses, surgeries, worry and tears. I have never felt so conquered in my whole life. I started surviving life one day at a time."
In the fall of the next year Ronda and her family moved across country, from Louisiana, returning to the Pacific Northwest. Being unable to locate any PWS fundraisers in the area, they decided to host one of their own. "We held our first 5k fundraiser in 2014 and followed it with three more. Hosting fundraisers has allowed us camaraderie with other PWS families and empowered us with the opportunity to make life better for our little girl.
"I now relish life one day at a time. In 2016, we promised our supporters a bigger and better year. We delivered, offering three fundraisers in two states and more than doubling our previous year’s fundraising efforts.
Team Eva Grace
Ronda promised her supporters that she would go to even greater lengths for PWS so she started Team Eva Grace with three close friends, Mara Beard, Tara Christman, and JayDee Lindeen. Together, the team, whose slogan is "Running to E-race Prader-Willi Syndrome," have raised tens of thousands of dollars for PWS research.
In 2017, this dynamic four-some joined Team FPWR and raced across the finish line of the worlds most popular marathon: The TCS NYC Marathon. "My goal this year was to compete in a series of races throughout with the final event being a marathon." And that she did! Ronda completed the TCS NYC Marathon hand in hand with Tara, Mara and Jaydee, with a single statement: "that was easier than I thought!" We wonder where Ronda will head next....
Are You Interested in Joining Team FPWR for the NYC Marathon or a race near you?
Runners from around the world join Team FPWR to raise funds and awareness for Prader-Willi syndrome. This special team is made up of passionate and committed individuals seeking to make a meaningful difference for the Prader-Willi community. FPWR has multiple event opportunities for you to run in! From a 5k to a full marathon, you can choose the perfect distance for your training goals! Learn more about running with Team FPWR or contact Jacqueline Mizon to learn more about all of our Team FPWR endurance events.
