Community Corner
Amazing Coincidence at NYC Marathon
For the first time, this past Sunday, the Central Jersey Dystonia Support and Action Group had a team running in the NYC Marathon. The support group meets at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. The CentraState Healthcare Foundation was one of the marathon team's sponsors.
According to the rules of the New York Road Runners Club, which runs the marathon, everyone running for a charity has to raise a minimum of $2,500 for that organization. The ten team runners raised $32,658 to benefit the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation.
Imagine having a pain like the leg cramp that awakens you at night, but having it all of the time in one or many parts of your body. That’s what the lives of many dystonia patients are like. Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes muscles to contract and spasm involuntarily. There are approximately 13 forms of dystonia and approximately 50 diseases and conditions include dystonia as a major symptom.
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It took a lot of perseverance and a bit of luck to get the "Dystance 4 Dystonia" team accepted. The NYC Marathon was canceled last year due to Superstorm Sandy. Everyone who had been registered for 2012 was guaranteed a slot for 2013. Very few new teams were given the opportunity.
Support group leaders Janice and Len Nachbar, along with other advocates from around the country, attended the marathon to support the team. They chose a location on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, close to where the runners entered Central Park for the last leg of the race.
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The Nachbars experienced an amazing coincidence. There were over 50,000 runners, hundreds of participating charities and 26 miles of cheering spectators. As they and their friends were setting up their flag to identify their location for their runners, the Micheal J. Fox Foundation set up theirs right next to them. A few years ago, Fox revealed that he suffers from dystonia in addition to Parkinson's disease. Mr. Fox joined his group later that morning. The Nachbars met Michael J. Fox and he graciously posed for a photo with them.
Information about the Central Jersey Dystonia Support and Action Group is available at www.centraljerseydystonia.com.
