Leeandra Archdeacon

I am a mom who never liked running...

On a warm day in June 2010 I received a phone call that would forever change my family. My son's Doctor called to tell me he had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal muscle wasting disease that to this day has no cure. I was devastated when she told me that he will loose his ability to run like all the other little boys in his class. He was only 3 1/2! I stayed curled up in my bed for months until one day I decided we needed a family vacation to Disneyland. I went to type Disneyland in my search engine and I did not realize that the word "Duchenne" was still in the box. The first link that popped up was "Run for our Sons", a group of parents, families who run to help find a CURE for this disease that steals our children.

I decided I couldn't stay in my bed forever, my son, my children, MY FAMILY needed me! I registered for my first ever half marathon and Ran with the "Run for our sons" team. I finished my first half in 2:38 and when I crossed the finish line I cried like a baby! I walked over to my son and placed my huge Castle medal over his head and he looked at me and said "Mama, you won this for me?!". With a smile I told him that it wouldn't be the last. I now run 5k's, family funs and any race within driving distance wearing my RFOS shirt. This is how I am coping with this disease.

I also train while pushing my son and daughter in our double jogger. When my son is over stimulated or I am having a rough day, we buckle up get our water and just run.