| My name is Chris Kaag and I want to invite you to join my family, friends and me in our effort to raise money to support research for The Myelin Project. In 1997, shortly after my 21st birthday, while serving overseas in the Marine Corps, I started noticing numbness in my legs and abnormalities in my ability to lift my feet.
After an extensive hospital stay and neurological evaluation, I was diagnosed in February of 1998 with AMN (Adrenomyeloneuropathy), a degenerative disease that breaks down the protective myelin sheath surrounding the nerves. This disease affects millions of people around the world. Over the course of the next few years my physical condition worsened. Because of the way AMN affected my legs I started to use crutches, then a cane and now the combination of two canes and a wheelchair.
I have maintained an optimistic attitude and pro-active approach to my condition and continue to lead a very active lifestyle. In addition to maintaining a daily workout program I am an avid and competitive hand cyclist. My personal experience with AMN, coupled with my active lifestyle, has inspired me to organize a competitive and fun event to raise awareness and money for The Myelin Project, an organization that aims to help millions of people regain their ability to walk.
For more information on the Myelin Project and the research it supports CLICK HERE. |
