I'm going fundracing for MS research! Will you help me bring encouragement to the world of MS and beyond?

My Race
Trifest for MS Trifesta

My Story
I remember laying in a cold x-ray room on my birthday and getting my spinal tap (at my age, a birthday is just another day, right?).  I also remember the doctor's phone call I received while on my way home from work.."Keena, your spinal tap showed numerous positive bands and your MRI's showed multiple lesions...you have MS."  That was 10 years ago and I was driving home to a husband, a 6 year-old son and a 3 year-old daughter.  I remember squatting down to eye level with my son and trying to explain to him what MS was and if he had any questions.  His one question, "Mommy, does that mean you are going to die?"  If that doesn't snap a parent out of a funk, then I don't know what does!  My response, "I'm not going anywhere and I'm going to do everything I can to fight this and keep moving."

Fast forward to 2016 and I have done adventure races, Half and full Ironman triathlons, Olympic, sprint, and super sprint distance triathlons, and also full and half marathons.  I've coached my kids as well as local school kids and adults how to compete in triathlons.  My whole family has competed in the National Triathlon Championships and I qualified this year for two National Championships including one duathlon and one triathlon. We do races together as a family, camp, fish, and have hiked the Grand Canyon. I work two jobs, have two very active kids involved with school sports and I am a full time college student graduating in December.  Yes, I have MS and I struggle with permanent manifestations of the disease, but I am not about to give up on what God has given me.  My greatest reward has been watching my family fight this with me and I see the same strength and determination in everything they do.  I hope to encourage anyone fighting a disabling disease to never give up.  I hope no one ever gives up supporting the need to find a cure...

My Encouragement
Hope for enough money to research and find a cure.

Dedication
I dedicate my race to me and other's with MS.

About the 2016 Team Endurance for MS
People with MS endure and encourage us onward, despite circumstances. It is our aim that we capture that spirit and share the encouragement forward through participating in endurance events. No matter what brings us to the starting line, we cheer each other to the finish line - in sport, in health and in life.

How You Can Help

• Donate. Encourage us on with whatever you feel called to give. Consider giving a $1 for every mile I'll complete.

• Share. Read our stories and tell your friends and family about our effort by posting them to Facebook and Twitter.

• Join my fundraiser. Click "create your own fundraiser" and join my fundraising team or create your own fundrace. 

Ironman triathlete, Ryan Dagley, is the 2016 Team Captain. I'm also fundracin' with 50+ other athletes dedicated to this effort! Together, we aim to raise over $30,000 for MS research. How can you use what you do to encourage the world of MS and beyond? Learn how you can get involved.

Know the Numbers

• MS is most commonly diagnosed in young adults.
• 80% of MS patients develop MS between the ages of 16 and 45.
• Women are more frequently diagnosed with MS by at least 2 to 1.
• MS is the leading cause of disability in young women and the second leading cause of disability in young men.
• About 350,000 people live with MS in the United States. 200 new patients are diagnosed, every week. If each person diagnosed has just one family member, friend or caregiver, that's 700,000 people impacted.

About MS
MS is a progressive and unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts communication between the brain and other parts of the body. The severity of the disease and its symptoms vary from person to person. The cause is unknown. There is no known cure--yet.

About the Rampy MS Research Foundation
We bring encouragement to the world of MS and beyond through the power of endurance sports, community and research. You can help. Join us and help change lives to save lives.

Swim. Bike. Run. Encourage!