Talia Runs a Marathon to Fund Myotonic Dystrophy Research

I am running the Long Beach Marathon this year on October 6, 2024! This will be the first time I ever attempt a full 26.2 miles, and I am running this not only in memory of my late father, William “Ted” James, but also in support of a cause that I care deeply about: raising funding for research and a cure for Myotonic Dystrophy.

Myotonic Dystrophy is a rare, multi-systemic, inherited disease that affects an estimated 1 in 2,100 people, or over 3.6 million individuals across the world. My dear friend Matt Brown is one of those individuals who has been living with the daily struggles that come with being diagnosed with DM. Despite the countless doctor's appointments and lifestyle changes he’s had to make, he’s also shown incredible courage, resilience, and tenacity in the face of this disease.

The Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation (MDF) is the leading global advocate helping patients and families navigate the Myotonic Dystrophy (DM) disease process and is often the first resource contacted by newly diagnosed patients, their families, their social workers, and their physicians around the world. For many international patients, the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation is often the only resource they are able to locate, and MDF has provided assistance and support for people living with DM in more than 139 countries around the world.

Please help me meet my fundraising goal to help support this incredible organization’s mission to find a cure.