Keep Richie Running Strong!

Brian Prange is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Lauren Spitsberg.

Donation protected

Help Richie Keep Running Through Frontotemporal Dementia!

Friends, family, and all admirers of brilliant, legendary humans:

This is to support Richie Spitsberg—father of four, my college roommate, and the only guy I know who can solve complex equations while running a 10K. Richie was recently diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), which is putting his brain through its paces in ways even he, as a literal rocket scientist, couldn’t have predicted.

One of the first things FTD takes away is personal insight. Richie’s left wondering, “There’s nothing wrong with me—why can’t I just do what I want?” And, if you know Richie, what he "wanted" was to keep doing things like running long distances even if his body (and sometimes motivation) starts to suggest otherwise.

Richie is now on disability, which is a wild thought when you realize he’s spent his career figuring out how to build rockets as an Aerospace Engineer for BAE. But if you think that’s going to slow him down, you don’t know Richie. Over time this will strip away his speech, personality and ultimately his life as this is a terminal illness with an average of under 10 years life expectancy after diagnosis. FTD has become his newest, and toughest, marathon.

This journey is not just hard on Richie; it’s going to be especially tough on his incredible wife and caregiver, Lauren. She’s been a rock for their family, juggling the demands of four kids, while also helping Richie navigate the complexities of his condition. This GoFundMe is to raise funds that will directly support Lauren in this new role, helping her manage the challenges that lie ahead.

All donations will go toward:

Medical care (for when Richie insists he can still run a half marathon, despite missing the part where he’s supposed to rest)
Home support (for the team that will eventually have to convince him he doesn’t need to rebuild his home’s foundation using his engineering skills)
Everyday expenses (because, just like in a marathon, you’ve got to keep going even when life throws up some hurdles)
Fun experiences (to keep Richie running toward joy, even if he forgets to pace himself)

Richie’s always been there for his family, friends, and colleagues—now it’s our turn to be there for him. Let’s help him and his family focus on making the most of every moment, especially the ones where Richie still tries to outrun reality.

Any donation, share, or kind word helps. Together, we can make sure Richie stays in this race with all the love and support he needs.