Miles for Migraine Cincinnati

Miles for Migraine Cincinnati 2020 will look a lot different than 2019 and 2018. It looks a lot more like 2017 before we were adding many cities around the United States. Due to COVID-19, we will be doing our regular event virtually. I am so bummed that we won’t be able to gather this year! Over the last couple of years, I have been a speaker and have been awarded the biggest team, biggest fundraiser, and the advocate award.  I hope to continue our good standings and raise lots of money this year from home.

 In the United States, more than 37 million people have migraine. Everyone either knows someone who has migraine or struggles with migraine themselves.

Participating in Miles for Migraine Cincinnati 2020

Even though this year is different, you can still participate in Miles for Migraine Cincinnati 2020! From June 10-18, I will be lacing up my sneakers and logging my miles for migraine. To support, please donate to Sarah. If you’d like to join my team, please do so and post pictures and tag me in your adventures. Even though we can’t BE together doesn’t mean we can’t WORK together. I love that it is a range of time and if you can’t participate one day, maybe the next will be the day. If you can’t the next day, post a picture of self-care and how you are fighting migraine. If exercise doesn’t make you feel better, what does?

You will have the chance to log your 2 Mile Walk, 5K run or 10K run. You can also track all your miles for the ~10 days that your virtual event is open and add those miles to our total. Not up for exercise? You can still help. For every time you share a photo showing how you “Just Relax” and manage your self care, we will add 1 mile to the tracker.

Participate

Donating to Miles for Migraine Cincinnati 2020

At this point in time, everyone’s financial situations are different, please don’t feel stressed about the amount.  If you can spare $10, amazing THANK YOU. If you can’t, pass along my post and share to friends who may. It’s all about TEAMWORK and doing the best we can with what we can. Donations will go to UC Health Headache Center and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Headache Center.

Donate

Sharing My Migraine Life’s Journey

To motivate you more, June is Migraine Awareness Month! It is a time to virtually make noise on how migraine is more than just a headache. Therefore, it is a time to share content and enlighten your family and friends about migraine and headache disorders. It’s simple to do and makes a huge difference. I encourage you to tell your story.

Be sure to follow on social to keep up with the action. Tag @mymigrainelife and use #milesformigraine #migraineawareness #fundraiser #milesformigraine #migraineadvocacy #migraine

Cleveland Miles for Migraine

To those of you that have joined my team and donated to the Cleveland event, please join me again in July. July 18 is the official day to support but I will be doing promotions from July 15-23.  Please join and support me then!!

Miles for Migraine Cincinnati 2019

Team My Migraine Life traveled to Cincinnati on June 8, 2019.  This is an extra special city for us.  It’s a place of love, family, and friendship.  Being that June is Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, I am thrilled to be raising extra money and awareness during this time both in-person and online. All donations from this event will benefit the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and UC Health to support their headache fellowship program & local research.

Event Location: 5057 Wooster Road, Cincinnati Ohio 45226

This year, I went walking for migraine awareness month. We raised money for Miles for Migraine in Cincinnati. It was an amazing day!

Last year, I arrived in Cincinnati and almost canceled the night before due to an intense migraine.   But I made it! This year, I arrived and woke up feeling as good as could be expected.  We arrived and Team My Migraine Life did not disappoint!

In fact, we were honored with the largest team award!

Walk for Migraine

Team My Migraine Life raised $366.66

Miles for Migraine Cincinnati total $4,464

In the end, the total doubled from last year with close to 300 participants. What a success!

Prior to the walk, I was honored to give my patient a perspective on life with migraine.  People thanked me for sharing my story. I am inspired by their feedback.  As an advocate, I never know how many people I touch with my story. Their simple “thank you” fuels me to continue in my efforts.

Some walked, some ran and we all worked up a sweat. The day ends with hugs and hearts full of love!  It was a day of awareness, community, fun, funds, and love.  Thank you to all that donated and supported.  Every step I take is for the millions who migraine touches.  For all of you who are in a dark room, an ER, or affected by migraine, we continue to walk and fight for a change.

Miles for Migraine Cincinnati 2018

This weekend, I was part of Miles for Migraine race in Cincinnati.  It was a beautiful and warm day filled with love, support and a group of people fighting stigma and raising money for Migraine and headache disorders.

Miles for Migraine Cincinnati

The race raised $3,550

Team My Migraine Life raised $567.37.  Thank you to all those who donated.

We were the top team!!! I’m so proud of us 🙂

The day began with fighting a 3-day migraine that I had traveled with but had a huge inspiration to make it to the event.  When I got there, I was surrounded by some migraine advocate powerhouses.

Michelle Tracy, Migraine Warrior, represented the INVisible project with her smiling face and sharing her inspiring personal stories. She also spoke to the group about being a patient advocate and how we can all be one ourselves. Not only is Michelle an amazing and strong advocate but she was brave enough to sing the National Anthem to begin our race.  She has a strong voice as a patient and as a singer!

Katie Golden, GoldenGraine, brought sparkle to all of our days.  She is the senior contributing writer to the INVisble Project and a fierce advocate.  I can’t possibly list all of the things she is doing for the migraine and pain community but check her out and follow along.  She was kind enough to run the race with my daughter and then touch up her sparkles…..because there is no such thing as too much glitter!

Once again, I gave my patient perspective.  I was shaky and read my speech because I could not guarantee that I could string my words together and make sense.  I felt so proud that I stood up to the pain and was able to put a face on what migraine disease really looks like. We also heard from Dr. Andrew Hershey, the chair and director of the division of neurology at Cincinnati Children’s. He is a professor of pediatrics and neurology.

Cincinnati Walk/Run/Relax

After that, we walked.  At the Miles for Migraine events, you are welcome to run and be a fierce competitor, walk and enjoy your team or stay at the tents to mingle or relax.  It’s all about building community, moving how you can, and raising funds so we all can live a healthier life.

The best part of the day was being with the ones that I love.  Spending a morning for a good cause with good people is always a great way start to the day.  I woke up in pain, shaky, sick, and not sure if I could make it.  Thanks to effective medication, endorphins, and a bit of luck, I was able to enjoy the day.  I walked with some of our best friends, my husband, and our mini me’s.  It was a day that we plan on turning into a tradition.

Wondering about the Brain Hat? The Brain Hat Society is for people with migraine, their caregivers, friends, and family while recognizing their heroic efforts.  If you raise $50 you can be a member.  Purple is for migraine sufferers and pink is for the caregivers and loved ones.

Thank you to all that supported Miles for Migraine Cincinnati.  We are fighting not just for ourselves but for future generations. Also, a BIG thank you to the sponsors and these hard-working ladies!  Shirley Kessel is the Miles for Migraine president while Katie MacDonald oversees operations.  They work tirelessly on bringing these events to more cities and raising funds to benefit so many.

Check to see if Miles for Migraine is coming to your city and how you can participate virtually!