I ran with Team Sjogren’s in the Country Music Half Marathon on April 27, 2013 in Nashville, TN. At age 48, I struggled to complete my first and only half marathon. It was an absolute thrill, and I will cherish that experience with Team Sjogren’s for the rest of my life! Afterwards, I found out I had actually run with a torn meniscus in my right knee and had surgery later that year. I haven’t been able to run again due to ongoing issues with my right knee. I actually tore my right meniscus again in 2017 but opted not to have additional surgery. It was one of those things where I just learned to live with a “bad knee”. Then in 2018 just as I was considering trying to run again, I tore the meniscus in my left knee. It was unbearable, so I decided to go ahead and have surgery. I had actually wanted to run with Team Sjogren’s in New Orleans in 2019, but due to ongoing issues with my right knee and recent surgery on my left knee, I just couldn’t.

My history with the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation (SSF) dates back to 2012 when I first contacted the SSF CEO, Steven Taylor, about writing a book about Sjogren’s. I had the honor and privilege of attending the 2013 SSF National Patient Conference in Bethesda, MD along with the 5 fabulous women on my celebrity panel in the book to launch SHOWgrins as part of our Book Signing Extravaganza. The book became the #1 Best Seller at the conference that year. Please visit my website here for more information about the extravaganza at the National Patient Conference in 2013.

Suffice it to say there is so much more I’d like to say, but I’ll be brief here and just refer you to other links where you can read more about my story.  Please watch the video blog below on YouTube to HEAR more about Winning Gold with Sjogren’s (SHOWgrins).

Another link I’d like for you to reference is one of my blog posts. Please click here to read more about Bringing Awareness to That Which Is Invisible.  I hope this helps you understand a bit more about me and why I am compelled to continue supporting the SSF. It started with my book, SHOWgrins, but that was only the beginning.

I have donated all proceeds from the sale of my book to the SSF, and I will continue to do so… forever. It’s just that important to me!

I may not be able to run with Team Sjogren’s anymore, but my book will be here to help even when I can’t. 

Also, you can purchase my book directly from the SSF here. All proceeds go directly to the SSF. Thank you Steven Taylor for making this possible! And a very special heartfelt thank you to the 5 fabulous women on my celebrity panel in the book: Cathy Taylor, Estrella Bibbey, Judy Kang, Lynn Petruzzi, and Paula Beth Sosin. I could not have written it without you. Please note: One of the women in the book lost her battle with Sjogren’s. You can read more about my tribute to her on my blog post: What Do You Do When You Lose One?

The SSF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt national voluntary health agency. Its mission is to: 

• Educate patients and their families about Sjögren’s.
• Increase public and professional awareness of Sjögren’s. 
• Encourage research into new treatments and a cure.

If you would like to help raise funds to support this mission, donating through the FirstGiving website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts even though I’m unable to run in the upcoming race in New Orleans in 2019. Please click to DONATE to the SSF. Thank you so very much for your consideration and support!