Jamie and Brett Brackett

When I was in college I received a letter from a person who was diagnosed with a rare disease. She described how because there was little known about her rare disease that there wasn't much available to help her and she felt alone in her battle.

Despite the doctors best advice to not search about her diagnosis online, she did so anyway. Fortunately for her, she found a group of athletes at Penn State who dedicated a workout to raise money and inspire hope for people affected by rare diseases. In her letter she said she went from feeling alone, to feeling like our football team had her back. This gave her hope and the strength to take on her battle. From that moment forward, I knew I wanted to do anything I could to inspire hope in others who needed it.

Hope comes in many forms and it can take a seemingly small thing to ignite it. When hope is lit, it can change someones life. That is why I am excited excited to participate in the 7,000 Mile Challenge presented by Sanofi Genzyme! Together we can be that spark that ingnites the hope when someone desperately needs.

I will be tracking my mileage throughout the 10-day challenge to collectively add to the Uplifting Athletes total. Will you support me for every mile I log between September 17-26 to help me reach my fundraising goal? Thank you for your support!