Page created by: Laura O'Sullivan

This April I will be running the Boston Marathon in honor of my dad's good friend, Frank O'Mara. A native of Limerick, Ireland, Frank ran for University of Arkansas. He went on to represent Ireland in three Olympic Games and was an Indoor World Champion in the 3000m in 1987 and 1991. In 2010 Frank was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Each year approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's, a disease that is thought to affect a total of 7-10 million people worldwide. From the outside, those affected can develop mobility and dexterity issues, but what is often missed is the associated internal side effects such as anxiety, depression, and fatigue. For those affected and their loved ones, everyday can be a battle.

There are very few runs that go by where I don't think about Frank. He enters my mind when my legs hurt or I get a cramp; when my alarm goes off and I don't feel like getting out of bed; when it is the middle of the winter and the sun has already set and also in the middle of summer with the sun beating down. Frank can no longer run, so I run for him. Whether you run, walk, bike, or swim, everyday remember that there are some people who can't do those things. Be grateful for every day that you can do those things.

I am running the Boston Marathon to raise awareness about Parkinson's. If just a few people end up researching more about the disease it will be worth it. I also set up this website to help raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation so that one day, hopefully very soon, we will have a cure.