Grassroots Fall News & Events 2018:

Joe Geoghegan: Marathoner on a Mission 

Joe Geoghegan considers himself a lucky guy although he has multiple autoimmune diseases. Here’s why:

“In less than two months, I will have the privilege of lining up alongside 50,000 runners to take on the challenge of the New York City Marathon. It will be my third marathon. The second was harder than the first, and this one will no doubt be harder than the second. In fact, after my second one, I swore to myself that I would never run another marathon again.
But then I thought back to my first marathon and I tried to remember what inspired me to run it in the first place. Yes, it was an opportunity to check a line item off my bucket list, but there was more to it. That marathon came right after I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. My disease is not life-threatening but it’s serious enough that it gave me a real scare. When I first started noticing a problem, I visited many doctors and I was frustrated because none of them could pinpoint a root cause of my discomfort – maybe it was Lyme disease, maybe it was a nagging basketball injury – no one really knew.

Finally, after what seemed like 100 tests, my condition was diagnosed, but even still, my doctors could offer me very little in the way of definitive direction or treatments. Science, it seemed, was just beginning to understand autoimmune diseases and how to treat and cure them. That lack of clarity and understanding angered me, and it does still.

But like I said, I’m lucky. Autoimmune diseases come in many shapes and sizes, and there are quite a few out there that are much more devastating than mine…I see the terrible effects of Lupus as a close friend deals with it now.

In fact, when I really think about it, autoimmune diseases have touched the lives of lots of people I know.

So when I was diagnosed, a few years ago, I ran the marathon because the uncertainty of my diagnosis scared me, and I didn’t know when I would get another chance to run a marathon. So this marathon, I am running for a different reason. This time around, I’m running the marathon to raise money for the Autoimmune Association. AARDA’s mission is the eradication of autoimmune diseases and the alleviation of suffering and the socioeconomic impact of autoimmunity through fostering and facilitating collaboration in the areas of education, public awareness, research, and patient services.

I’m asking [everyone I know] to support this great organization and help stop autoimmune diseases with

a small donation…Hopefully, I’ll finish all 26.2 miles of the marathon, so a donation of $1 per mile would equate to a total donation of $26.20.”

Joe has a goal of $5000. You can help him reach his goal at:

https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=ca3260

Read the latest Grassroots Newsletter here

In the last quarter, grassroots event organizers and project leaders worked hard to raise autoimmune awareness on behalf of Autoimmune Association and those we serve. If, in reading about them below, you are inspired to create an event or project in your community, please give us a call at (855) 239-2557 or email [email protected].