My name is Alexander Lundskog. My aunt Anna and my cousin Wilma live with Nemaline Myopathy — a rare muscle disorder affecting breathing, swallowing, and mobility. For most families, a diagnosis still comes without a roadmap. No approved treatments. No clear path forward. Just the daily work of managing a condition that medicine hasn't caught up with yet.

Anna and Wilma have told me that by the end of a normal day, their bodies feel like they've run a marathon. On November 1st, it's my turn to find out what that feels like on the streets of NYC.

I spent years as a competitive 800m runner, and now I work as a doctor. In both roles, I've learned that progress comes from people who refuse to accept that the current situation is good enough. That's why, when the chance came to join Team AFBS — running TCS NYC Marathon for charity — it wasn't a hard decision.

A Foundation Building Strength is the only organization wholly dedicated to finding effective treatments for Nemaline Myopathy. They are currently managing a $3.6 million research commitment focused on gene therapy and preparing for clinical trials — real science, moving toward real outcomes.

100% of every donation goes directly to research. So when you give, you're not covering overhead. You're funding the experiment that might mean safer breathing for a child, or stronger legs for someone who has been told to simply adapt.

If this cause means something to you — or if you just want to back someone running 26.2 miles for the people they love — I'd be grateful for your support.