SteadyMed Therapeutics CEO Set to Compete in Honor of Race of Our Lives

On April 13, Jonathan Rigby, CEO of SteadyMed Therapeutics, will compete in the Ironman 70.3 in New Orleans in support of Team PHenomenal Hope and the Race of Our Lives campaign. How awesome is that?

Not only does Jonathan represent a company that works to better PH patients' lives, but he also empathizes with PH patients on another level. Jonathan is a type-1 diabetic who wears an insulin pump round-the-clock, just as many PH patients wear medication pumps.

The IronMan 70.3 is a long-distance triathlon race where athletes swim, bike and run a total of 70.3 miles. Jonathan’s New Orleans race will take him through Southshore Harbor, the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge and City Park’s Botanical Gardens – finishing up at Louis Armstrong Park. That is intense!

Jonathan has set up a virtual fundraising page to ask supporters to sponsor him as he tackles the IronMan 70.3. Donations to Jonathan’s page will support PH research and patient programs.

Learn more about Jonathan and his fundraising

PH Doctor Shows Support of Team PH with Ski Challenge

We are so inspired by what PH medical professionals in our community are doing to cheer on Team PHenomenal Hope through the Race of Our Lives campaign. One of those medical professionals, Dr. Hap Farber of Boston University, will show his solidarity and support by skiing 100,000 total vertical feet in just one day this March.

Dubbed Dr. Hap Farber's Race of Our Lives Ski Challenge, this event will require Dr. Farber to cover the vertical distance in just nine hours on the ski slopes. That works out to be about 50 runs of 2,000 feet each. That is a lot of skiing! A virtual fundraising page for Dr. Farber's challenge asks supporters to sponsor feet in his journey – and we are cheering him on to get all 100,000 feet sponsored!

Through this challenge, Dr. Farber is blazing a trail for future Team PHenomenal Hope Pacesetters. Pacesetters are medical professionals who make exceptional contributions to the Race of Our Lives efforts. Check out this group and encourage your medical professionals to get involved.

Learn more about Dr. Farber's challenge

Join Us for the PHenomenal Mile

The Race of Our Lives campaign is growing rapidly, thanks to the support of PH patients, family members, medical professionals and friends – just like you! We invite you to join us in a nationwide day of action, in solidarity with Team PHenomenal Hope. Will you continue your support and walk with us?

The PHenomenal Mile will take place on Saturday, April 12, across the nation. Wherever you live, and whatever your capacity, commit to walking with us. Participation is FREE!

Here is how you can join us:

1. Register for the PHenomenal Mile – Get your pin on the map
   It's FREE to register and our goal is to get people walking in every state! So far, eight states are represented.
   
2. Go Public – Make it a PHenomenal Mile Meet-up!
   Let us know where and when you are walking when you register, and we will publicize it. The first 50 people to organize a Meet-up will receive five free Race of Our Lives bracelets.

To learn more about the PHenomenal Mile and how you can continue to support Team PHenomenal Hope, visit our PHenomenal Mile web page.

Sponsor a Mile Update: Half the Map SOLD!

We are more than halfway there! The Race of Our Lives campaign has sold half the miles on the “Sponsor a Mile” map. That accounts for 1,500 miles of the 3,000 miles that Team PHenomenal Hope will be racing in June. Way to go!

There are still miles left to be sponsored – fewer than 1,500 to be exact. The East Coast region is already sold out. Which region will be next? The race is on!

Already purchased a mile? Spread the word to family and friends, and let them know that $15 sponsors one mile. Every mile counts. Every mile helps support vital PH research and programs for patients. Learn more about sponsoring a mile

Twice As Nice: Two PH Patients Hit 1,000 Mile Marks!

Two PH patients, who are cycling 3,000 miles each in honor of PHA and Team PHenomenal Hope, have surpassed the 1,000 mile marks on their journeys! Within the last week, both Josh Griffis and Kathleen Richardson have completed one-third of their goals and have continued to add to that since.

A big congratulations goes out to these two for their dedication to the PH cause and the Race of Our Lives campaign. We can’t wait to see them both cross the 3,000 mile mark. Here’s to the next 2,000 miles!

Josh Griffis

Josh Griffis, otherwise known as “The PH Peddler,” began his quest to bike 3,000 miles in September 2013 and is focused on completing his goal by June 2014 – just in time for Race Across America. Not only is Josh cycling to raise awareness of PH, but also funds. He is challenging himself to raise $15,000 for the PH cause. To reach this goal, Josh has created a virtual fundraising page that allows people to support his efforts by sponsoring miles that he cycles. Visit Josh’s virtual fundraising page

You can follow along with Josh’s journey on Facebook, where he documents his daily rides and updates to his total. Head on over to Josh’s page and leave your well wishes and words of encouragement for him!

Kathleen Richardson

If Kathleen sounds familiar, it is because we previously blogged about her and an interview Team PHenomenal Hope conducted with her. You can read the full story about Kathleen in our earlier blog post. On Jan. 11, Kathleen officially passed the 1,000 mile mark after only starting her challenge two months prior! Kathleen also documents her rides on a Facebook page dedicated to her challenge – so be sure to follow along.

We will continue to post amazing updates from Josh, Kathleen and others who are participating in various challenges to support Team PHenomenal Hope. Want to plan your own challenge to continue supporting the Race of Our Lives campaign? Visit our website for more information on how to plan a Unity Miles event or set up a virtual fundraising page.

Ryanne Conquers the “Dirty Dozen”

We are sending a huge “congratulations” out to Team PHenomenal Hope member, Ryanne, for

tackling – and conquering – Pittsburgh’s 12 steepest hills for the second time in the Dirty Dozen annual bicycle competition. Ryanne won the women's category, after enduring near-freezing weather, a few broken bike parts and even a bad case of nausea!

The Dirty Dozen competition began in 1983 and has occurred annually since then on the Saturday immediately following Thanksgiving. In order to finish the Dirty Dozen, riders must ride completely up each of the 12 hills without stopping – or crashing! If a rider fails to maintain a continuous uphill momentum, they must go back to the bottom of that hill and start again. Read more about the Dirty Dozen

Ryanne’s win was a huge feat, and we can’t wait to see her, and the rest of Team PHenomenal Hope, take on Race Across America in June. You can read a detailed account of Ryanne’s experience conquering the Dirty Dozen on the Team PHenomenal Hope blog.

PH Patient Plans to Bike 3,000 miles in Unity Miles Challenge

'Tis the season ... of giving!

Pulmonary hypertension patient, Kathleen Richardson, recently kicked off a virtual fundraising challenge in support of the Race of Our Lives campaign and our friends, Team PHenomenal Hope. Between Nov. 1, 2013 and June 14, 2014, Kathleen plans to ride 3,000 miles on bike, which for anyone — especially a PH patient — is quite a feat! Her goal is to raise $3,000 — $1 for each mile that she rides, which will help support PH research and programs for patients. To meet that goal, Kathleen is asking friends, family, community members — basically anyone and everyone — to give a donation to her virtual page.

Recently, Kathleen was a featured story on Team PHenomenal Hope's blog. The team interviewed Kathleen and got the inside scoop on her diagnosis story and how cycling fits into her life. Below is an excerpt from the interview:

How and when did you start cycling?
I always loved riding my bike as a kid. I loved to just take off on long rides and did that on and off up through college, but was not really what I would call a “serious” cyclist (not sure I’m a “serious” cyclist still ... but I love to ride!). I started riding with a purpose after I was diagnosed with PH.

Want to learn more about Kathleen? Head over to Team PHenomenal Hope's blog to read on!

Interested in starting your own virtual fundraising page to support the Race of Our Lives campaign? Learn more and get started.