Hello friends, family, and fellow runners! I am back and raising money again this year to support the Feinstein IBD center at Mount Sinai and run in the 2023 NYC Marathon. This will be my fifth NYC marathon (and fifth in a row)! For those of you who don't know, my brother Evan Wood was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 13. Crohn's is a terrible autoimmune disease which causes inflammation of the intestines. There is currently no cure, and can only be managed. He takes a powerful self-injected drug every week to help keep himself healthy. Three years ago he had major surgery and had to have two feet of his lower intestines removed. Despite his condition, over the years I have watched my brother become a beacon of strength and inspiration; transforming himself into a competitive runner, shattering his own personal bests, and now a certified running coach! In such a tenuous time, he serves as a reminder how when faced with adversity, we can step up to the plate and do amazing things if we just come at it with the right attitude. He also got me started with this whole running thing in the first place! Waking me up and dragging me out of bed on Saturday mornings to go running with him. 40+ races for me later, here I am.
All of this wouldn't have been possible without the amazing work of Dr. Keith Benkov, and the Mount Sinai Feinstein IBD center who have gone above and beyond to help keep my brother and countless others stable, and healthy. I am proud to be running for this amazing team that helps directly contribute to their clinical care, innovative research initiatives and more. Thank you in advance for your support of my fundraiser. Let's work together to help kick some IBD butt!