ELORA 50度灰视频� Nate Sutherland is attempting to do something many of us would think is impossible 50度灰视频� run from Elora to Toronto in a single day.
It50度灰视频檚 not just for kicks, and it50度灰视频檚 not part of his training either.
Sutherland is a speed skater with dreams of one day competing at the Olympics, so training is everything.
He recently completed his first year at the University of Calgary, where he50度灰视频檚 combining kinesiology studies with speed skating training.
But this run is different.
The 19-year-old is running to raise money for Mount Sinai Hospital50度灰视频檚 research into autoimmune disease.
50度灰视频淎 lot of people in my life have these types of diseases,50度灰视频� Sutherland said in a phone interview.听
50度灰视频淚t50度灰视频檚 a disease that50度灰视频檚 underfunded and under-researched but about two million people have it.50度灰视频�
Autoimmune disease is when the immune system attacks the body. Your immune system can50度灰视频檛 tell the difference between your own cells and foreign cells and attacks them all.
Autoimmune diseases include lupus, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease, among many others.
Symptoms could include fatigue, joint pain, abdominal pain, digestive issues and fever.
Some of these diseases can be treated with drugs, others with ointments and creams, and others still with more invasive treatments like insulin shots or intravenous immune globulin 50度灰视频� a blood product made up of antibodies that may help correct the immune system.听
But scientists aren50度灰视频檛 really sure why for some people, the body turns on itself this way.听
And to the onlooker, it50度灰视频檚 not obvious when someone has an autoimmune disease.
50度灰视频淭his run is to raise awareness as well as funds for research,50度灰视频� Sutherland听 said. 50度灰视频淎utoimmune disease really is an invisible disease. But just because you can50度灰视频檛 see it doesn50度灰视频檛 mean someone is not sick.
50度灰视频淲e all have to be compassionate with others. Take a second and think,50度灰视频� he added.
50度灰视频淭hat50度灰视频檚 why it50度灰视频檚 important to build awareness.50度灰视频�
Louis de Melo, CEO of Sinai Health Foundation, could not agree more.
50度灰视频淐ommunity fundraising initiatives like Nate50度灰视频檚 play a crucial role in raising both funds and awareness for research,50度灰视频� de Melo stated in an email. 听
50度灰视频淪inai Health50度灰视频檚 Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute is one of the top biomedical research institutes in the world and is tackling some of the biggest health challenges we face, including autoimmune diseases.听
50度灰视频淲hen a dynamic fundraiser like Nate steps up, they inspire the broader community to step up.50度灰视频�
Sutherland will make the 100km-plus trek on May 19.
He50度灰视频檚 starting at 5am at Wellington Road 7 and 8th Line and expects it will take 12 to 14 hours to work his way to the hospital in downtown Toronto.
50度灰视频淚t50度灰视频檚 going to be a tough one for sure. 100km is a long distance to run. But it50度灰视频檚 hard having an autoimmune disease as well,50度灰视频� he said.听
50度灰视频淚 want people with the disease to feel supported too. This doesn50度灰视频檛 get talked about much, and it should.50度灰视频�
Sutherland has started a GoFundMe page and already has raised close to $1,800. He50度灰视频檒l also be posting his progress on Instagram at @100kmautoimmune.
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