A Foundation Building Strength

Hi, my name is Catherine Diana  Coffey.  On January 21st, I will be running a half marathon in Central Park.  This will not be my first marathon, however, I wanted this one to be special.  I have decided to run this marathon in honor of my friend, Rachel Gross, who lives with a rare form of muscular dystrophy called Nemaline Rod Myopathy.

Nemaline Rod Myopathy is a disorder that affects all of Rachel's muscles.  Because of it, her body is extremely weak and relies on a wheelchair to get around.  In addition, she needs assistance to breathe, and eat, as well as many other daily tasks that we tend to take for granted.

I met Rachel during the summer of 2016.  Since then, I am happy to say that she has become one of my closest friends.  She has taught me so much and has inspired me in many ways.  Even with the challenges that she faces, she never lets them stop her from living her best life.

There is currently no cure for Nemaline, but with your help, we can be one step closer to finding one.  

To learn more about Nemaline Rod Myopathy, click this link: http://buildingstrength.org 

Thank you all!