PKD Foundation

I know you're busy and likely face multiple fundraising opportunities every day. Know that I wouldn't be asking you if I didn't believe this to be an endeavor worthy of your time and money. I have been blessed with friends who share their passion with me and together we try to fan the flame of compassion and giving back. One such friend is Ken McLaughlin, COO of PKD Foundation.

PKD Foundation is the only organization in the U.S. solely dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and to improve the lives of those it affects. 

To raise awareness of the work of the PKD Foundation and to raise funds for their work, I am participating in the 2018 Chicago Marathon Sunday, October 7. 

My goal? To cross the finish line before they close the course. 

My goal? To raise $1400.00 for PKD Foundation.

Running the Chicago Marathon is my modest effort to support a worthy cause that impacts family, friends and neighbors.  

As you know, I receive no funds for this effort, only sore muscles. I have no sponsors. I will pay my own way to the event. Lynn and I will contribute to the PKD Foundation ourselves. 

While living in Seoul, on one bright cold Saturday I decided to see how long it would take me to get downtown by way of Yongsan and Seoul Station. This route allowed me to trudge my way up towards Gyeongbokgung Palace, saluting Admiral Lee Sun Sin as I went by.

As I rounded the corner, I smacked into 12 buses of military police falling into formation on the sidewalk. No where to run. No place to hide. I decided to barge ahead, sidestepping the body shields, helmets, batons, etc. lying in the path as equipment being unloaded was transferred to the waiting lines of way too young boys ready for Saturday afternoon embassy duty. 

Three buses into the morass, they became aware of a foreign presence. Six buses down, they started to part the way for me. By the time I passed the tenth bus, the kids--soldiers- were giving me the high five. Finally reaching bus 12, I tried to hit the intersection before the light turned. No luck. I stopped. Catching my breath, I turned around to find twelve busloads of young men all looking my way. 

Awkward moment… I grinned and gave them the thumbs up. The kid in front of me saluted. They all started laughing and clapping and going back to whatever they were doing.  An officer at the end of this line asked me why I was running. I told him I was training for a marathon in which I was raising funds for an international organization working to eliminate extreme poverty. We talked for maybe half an hour (he was improving his English, I was working on my Korean!) Just before I ran off, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a handful of bills (10,000 won. There were four of them. About $40 USD) and handed them to me. 

It has been great fun get the reactions of friends who can’t stop laughing at the idea of me waddling across the finish line, athletes who understand the sacrifice one must make to train for a marathon, and children who giggle (or soldiers who laugh) when the funny looking foreigner comes trudging around the corner. When asked, I always have time to interrupt that so important “training run” to share that I am training to a race in which I hope to raise funds for my chosen cause (or the race “cause”). 

I have often been humbled by strangers on the street in far away places who have given me money—cash—right there on the spot, because they wanted to support causes (eliminating poverty, stopping human trafficking, disaster relief, medical research—to name a few.) My sacrifice for such causes is minimal. 

The PKD Foundation promotes research, education, advocacy, support and awareness on a national level, along with direct services to local communities across the country. The stories of persons served by PKD Foundation often express the sacrifice that is made be loved ones to ensure a life worth living. Their sacrifice is real. Significant. 

Please support my efforts to raise money for this great cause by donating to my Fundraiser at https://pkdfoundation.salsalabs.org/2018bankofamericachicagomarathon/p/garylogansfundraisingpage.

Thanks.