This past weekend, Ryan completed the first 70 miles of Project 96!  The project’s mission is to raise money and awareness for Juvenile Dermatomyositis by swimming, biking, and running 96 miles in two events, seven days apart. The first event was the Half Full Triathlon in Ellicott City, Maryland. The race was held on Sunday, October 6th, at Centennial Park and the weather was unbearable. It was nearly 90 degrees and humid! In addition to the challenge of the the unseasonable weather (last year’s race it was in the 40s), this half-ironman triathlon is known for being one of the toughest courses…and this was Ryan’s first triathlon.  What an accomplishment!  Ryan pushed through the heat and dizziness and completed a .9 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run. The entire event was inspiring: there were athletes of all ages and sizes, cancer survivors, families, and friends. All racing for a good cause. It was amazing standing at the finish line watching everyone run across the line. We saw people running with arms linked in the air, parents holding babies, wives and husbands jogging in support, people breaking into tears, and friends screaming in support along the path. There were even dogs that made their way across the line with their owners. We were so proud when we saw Ryan come around the bend! He did it! Here are some of my pictures from the event:

Ryan and Katia

Ryan and I

Waiting to begin the swim!

Swimming in Centennial Lake

Biking out of Centennial Park

Crossing the finish line

Exhausted after the race!

The second event is The United HealthCare Marathon in Newport, Rhode Island and will be taking place next Sunday, October 13th. Ryan will be running another 26.2 miles in support of the Cure JM Foundation to complete his 96-mile goal. Please support Ryan and Project 96 by:

1. Making a donation- any amount makes a difference! Just click this link: http://www.crowdrise.com/CureJM/fundraiser/ryanmccarthy2
2. Sharing the fundraising page of his team (Team CureJM) or this blogpost to your social media accounts to spread awareness of JDM.

To learn more about the Cure JM Foundation, visit http://www.curejm.org/. The Foundation has received a top-rated non-profit award for 3 years in a row from www.greatnonprofits.com. Read their reviews here.