“The meaning of life is to find our gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”

Eight years ago, I got a call from my friend Kyle Wallace in Philadelphia. After a long and complicated journey, his son Eli had finally received a diagnosis: FOP (fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva) — an ultra-rare genetic condition that slowly turns muscle into bone and gradually locks the body in place.

Kyle didn’t call to ask for sympathy. He called with a question.

Would I be willing to connect my endurance racing with fundraising to help support the search for a cure?

That same day, I had just registered for Ironman Wisconsin.

Call it a coincidence. Call it fate. Call it one of those quiet moments when life gives you a direction.

I said yes.

And I’ve kept saying yes ever since — because a cure still hasn’t been found.

Over the years, Eli has become one of the strongest sources of inspiration in my life. During the hardest miles of training and racing, when the body starts asking difficult questions, I often think about the courage it takes for him to face challenges most of us will never experience. His strength has carried me through Ironman races, ultramarathons, world championship events, and some very long days on the road and trail.

This year, I’m taking on a new challenge: The Badger 100 Mile, an Official Badwater 135 Qualifying Race.

I have 36 hours to complete the race, which begins August 1, 2026.

And I’m using that journey to raise $10,000 for IFOPA to support research and the search for a cure.

Along the way, I’ve been reflecting on a simple philosophy that a few of us close to this effort have been exploring in our own lives: when people listen to their inner voice and live in alignment with their purpose, their lives begin to create ripples far beyond themselves.

For me, endurance sports have always been one way of practicing that idea. The miles aren’t about perfection. They’re about persistence. They’re about putting one step in front of another, even when the path is long and uncertain.

And if those steps can help someone else keep moving too, the effort becomes something much bigger than a race.

Eli is no longer the “One Rare Boy” I first met years ago. He’s grown into an incredible young man who now easily towers over me. His courage continues to inspire the way I race, the way I train, and the way I try to show up in the world.

If you feel moved to support this effort, I invite you to be part of the ripple.

Every contribution helps move research forward and brings us one step closer to a future where Eli — and others living with FOP — can keep moving.

Thank you for being part of the journey!

#movingtokeepelimoving