Boston Marathon runner Tom Nealon and 7-year-old Zachary Rue were matched through the American Liver Foundation’s Run for Research® Patient Match Program. Tom is a law professor at the University of Miami and Zachary is an adorable little guy who was born with biliary atresia. Together, over the past 6 years, they have raised more than $425,000 for the Biliary Atresia Fund for the Cure. Wow! This year they are trying to raise another $100,000 targeted for biliary atresia research. The Boston Marathon will take place on April 20, 2009, and they will be actively fundraising up until that date.
I came across Tom & Zac’s fundraising page when I noticed an ALF biliary atresia research grant in honor of Zachary Rue. I Googled his name and found their amazing story.
The American Liver Foundation’s Run for Research is one of the oldest and largest marathon teams in the Boston Athletic Association’s official charity program. In 2008, runners raised over $1.1 million in funds for the American Liver Foundation.
The Biliary Atresia Fund for the Cure was initiated in 2002 to fund research to prevent, treat and cure biliary atresia. All donations to the Fund are restricted to research of biliary atresia.
The Biliary Atresia Fund for the Cure has the following goals:
- Advance basic knowledge about biliary atresia
- Compliment & support the government funded Biliary Atresia Research Consortium with ALF privately raised funds.
- Attract the best and brightest researchers to the study of biliary atresia.
- Develop new ways to prevent, treat and cure biliary atresia.
Go, Tom & Zac, Go!! Thank you for your efforts for all children born with biliary atresia. Wishing you the best of luck with the Boston Marathon and your goal to raise another $100,000 for biliary atresia research. 