American Liver Foundation:

FUNDRAISING

Patient Match Program

For many runners, the Patient Match Program is the best 'perk' of Run for Research. Runners may choose to be matched with liver disease patients to become more informed about liver disease and to personalize their experience on the team. Many runners and their matches meet several times during the training season—at Patient Match Program events, team meetings and American Liver Foundation activities. Some patients and their families volunteer to help at waterstops during long training runs and join the cheering section at mile 17 on race day—The Liver Mile. All team members can sign up to be matched to a runner at the start of the training season.

For more information on patient matching, please contact: Jen Fluder at jfluder@liverfoundation.org.

Be the inspiration for a Run for Research team member

Running a marathon is the ultimate test of physical endurance and a lifelong goal for many of our team members. In addition to the personal accomplishment, our team runs for another reason: to raise funds to help the millions of adults and children affected by liver disease. Some compete in honor or memory of a loved one who has battled liver disease; others run to help those they have never met.

Pair with a team member. By pairing with runners and sharing your experience with liver disease, you will give them added motivation, inspiration and a better understanding of the important cause they are running for. The runner will train for the marathon and raise funds for the American Liver Foundation in honor of you. While you are not required to raise funds, you and your family are welcome to assist in fundraising if you wish.

Share your story. Personal stories help runners better understand liver disease and its affect on those afflicted. The team is looking for personal stories to feature in the Run for Research® website and monthly team updates.

Attend a meeting. The Run for Research® team holds monthly group meetings featuring speakers on marathon preparation and liver disease. We would like to introduce you to the runners and perhaps have you share your personal account of how your life has been affected by liver disease.

Patient Stories: Kyleigh Burke battles biliary atresia with a family’s love

Kyleigh Burke suffers biliary atresia, a serious disease that affects young infants. She was born jaundiced and her mother noticed it was not going away. Today, she rides her bike, attends kindergarten, and loves to see the circus when it comes to town. Although the road of life has not been easy for Kyleigh, her mother says she handles it all—doctors’ appointments, constant poking and prodding, ingesting medicine—like a real champ. Her resilience makes her mother, Cindy, stop and think about the joys that the Burke family experience everyday and lets her focus on all the good that life has to offer. Read more »