 |
| Recent Team CMT Uniform Order |
"We suceed in enterprises which demand the positive qualities we possess, but excel in those which also make use of our defects." - Alexis de Tocqueville
Every year I put in an order for Team CMT uniform pieces from our supplier Champion Systems. It generally takes 60 days from order to delivery. I actually got the order a few days early.. I was surprised since our supplier is located in Brooklyn, New York. I guess they know a bit about facing hardships, just like the members of Team CMT.
We were formed in 2010 and ran our first race in Brown Deer, Wisconsin at the end of April. We had three members, myself, and my friends Cheryl and Robert Kearney. We have grown quite a bit since then. Here are current stats:
Members: 233 in 41 states
Countries : Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Vietnam, Iran, Scotland, France, Turkey, Poland, Norway, Mexico, Wales, Ireland, Sweden.
Sports represented: Running, walking, martial arts, cycling, swimming, kayaking, weight lifting, kayaking, Nordic sking, biatthlon, alpine sking, Track, triathlon
Team Member Accomplishments include:
- Boston Marathon and NY Marathon Finishers
- Circumventing Big Island of Hawaii by kayak
- Multiple Ironman finishers
- Team USA members including appearance at World Championships
- Multiple team members appearing at Para-triathlon National Championships
- Half and full marathon finishes around the US and in member countries
- Gran Frodo finishers
- Leadville 100 mile bike race finisher
- Multiple year appearance at Five Boros ride in NY
I founded the group because when I was diagnosed I could not believe I had never heard of CMT. It is the most common genetic neuromuscular condition. It did not seem right to me that most people had no idea what it was. I set out the change that. I knew there would be no cure without wider recognition of CMT.
I also saw that many in the community lived without hope. Most of them had been told not to exercise when they were diagnosed. At one time the thinking was that it would accelerate the disease. That has been found not to be true, but the belief was still common in the community.
It was a common belief by many even in the medical community that someone with CMT cannot run. That is true even for many of our Team CMT athletes, so they wear the Team CMT uniform doing the sports or workout their bodies allow.
Those of us that can still run have done runs, and multisport events in the U.S and in many parts of the world. Team members have put names and faces to this diesease at a time when having CMT still carried a stigma. Many family members including some my own, refused to discuss CMT.
I am so proud of the work our members have done to change preceptions about CMT. Now I see discussions in the community about the type of exercise that can be done. Our partner the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation has been a leader in promoting exercise for those with CMT. They have run multiple "Movement is Medicine" seminars. That is why were partnered with them shortly after the team was formed.
I am so grateful to the work out team members have done. I know the challenges faced by those with CMT to stay active. By being active you have proved many in the medical community wrong. You have inspired and been positive role models for the CMT community.
Many of our family members joined in support of an afflicted friend or family member. Thank you for your support. It means more than I can possibly express.
The 10 years have gone by quickly. When we started with three members 10 years ago, I never dreamed we would grow so large. I never imagined all the team members I've met from around the country. You humble and inspire me.
Often when I race, I am approached by someone with a family member with CMT. It is not unusual for someone with CMT to have never met someone with CMT outside of their family. I am happy to welcome then into our community
Although we are currently challenged by the virus concerns, someday soon we will be back to our mission. A few cancelled races is nothing compared to training and racing with CMT. We've got this.
Hoping for many more wonderful years for our team.
************************
************************
Chris
Wodke
Founder
& Manager Team CMT
www.run4cmt.com
Chris is
a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of the
Boston Marathon. In 2012 she finished
2nd at Boston
in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs
exploded.
She has
appeared three times at the Paratriathlon National Triathlon Sprint
Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Paratriathlon Open
Division Champion.
In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship and at the Aqua bike National Championship in 2016. She represented TeamUSA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015i, Cozumel
in 2016 and Denmark in 2018. In 2018 finishing 5th in the 60 to 64
age group.
In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship and at the Aqua bike National Championship in 2016. She represented Team
In 2014 she represented the U.S. as a paratriathlete at the Pan-American
Triathlon Championship in Dallas ,
Texas USA
for the World Championship.
In 2020
she was named a National Ski Patrol Subaru Ambassador and a USA Triathlon
Foundation Ambassador.
She
travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.
She is
the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a
CMT affected athlete and the book “Soup Sundays, A Journey Toward Healthy
Eating”.
Team CMT
is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a
cure for CMTWe currently have 233 athletes in 41 states. We also have
members in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Vietnam, Iran, Scotland,
France, Turkey, Poland, Norway, Mexico, Wales, Ireland and Sweden!. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org
CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth
is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000
Americans (as many as MS). It is a disease of the nerves that control the
muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation
in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.
Symptoms
include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor
balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual
dexterity.
Structural
foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.
Poor
tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold
hands and feet.
Additional
symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing
loss.
Keywords: Running, Running and
CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT,
paratriathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for
CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
CMT and running, CMT and
triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running,
Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my
life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston
Marathon Bombing, CMT disease, CMT and exercise, exercise and CMT, CMT, athlete
and CMT.Team CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, bike4CMT, walk4CMT, CMTA, HNF, Tri4CMT, Walk4CMT, MDA,
#kneedeepinwork
No comments:
Post a Comment