And so starts Jackie's story of her brother. Michael was diagnosed on October 22, 2012. The sweet, kind, full of energy 12-year-old started with dizziness and instability one fall weekend. The unimaginably swift decline happened in just one week- dizzy on Monday, wheelchair on Wednesday, struggling to eat on Thursday, hospice on Friday. Monday only one week after diagnosis Michael died.
Jackie shares their personal, poignant story because today she is running a half-marathon in her brother's memory. The Shamrock Half-marathon in Virginia Beach donates money to cancer causes, however Jackie wants to be specific. She wants to destroy DIPG. She chose to donate her money to a foundation started because of another 12-year-old taken by DIPG- Aimee's Army. Aimee's Army sponsors events to create awareness and fights for research about early detections.
Jackie, thank you for raising awareness of DIPG. Congratulations on raising 3x's your goal. Good luck crossing the finish line.
References:
Destroy DIPG for Mike- http://www.active.com/donate/destroyDIPGforMike
