Team Drea’s Race MedALS program pairs people living with ALS with athletes who wishTeam Drea’s Race MedALS program pairs people living with ALS with athletes who wish to run a race in their honor. While the athletes know that a race is far less difficult than the challenges of ALS, they hope to provide support and encouragement by letting the person know that others — even strangers — care about them and want them to keep fighting and hold onto hope.
Background:
Andrea Lytle Peet created Team Drea in January 2015 to encourage her friends and family to take on a running race or triathlon that represented a challenge to them and to use it as an opportunity to raise money for ALS research. Andrea was diagnosed with ALS in 2014 at the age of 33, less than a year after completing a 70.3-mile half Ironman triathlon. Now in its third year, Team Drea has grown to 150 members and raised $150,000 for ALS TDI and the Blazeman Foundation. Thanks to her slow progression,Andrea completed 12 races in 2016 on her recumbent trike and dedicated each race to a fellow ALS warrior who has been an inspiration to her. She aims to do 12 races in 2017, health-permitting!
How it Works:
To nominate an ALS warrior (self-nominations welcome):
- Complete this form and provide the person’s name, address, and 2-3 sentences about his/her story (optional).
- Sometime in 2017, the person will receive a race medal with a handwritten note from an athlete who has completed a race in his/her honor.
If you would like to join Team Drea and race in honor of someone with ALS, sign up here. You are asked to raise at least $250 for ALS TDI or the Blazeman Foundation. Team members may sign-up here to be matched with an ALS Warrior.
Questions? Email Heather Scott (heatherstao@gmail.com)