RAMMS Grand Rapids Marathon, Half, Relay, 10K, 5K & Worldwide Team
Run A Myelin My Shoes (RAMMS) is united by one goal: to exercise to the best of our abilities despite a disease that compromises mobility. Some of us run marathons and some walk 5Ks with the support of trekking poles, while other pedal, paddle, stretch, lift, climb, or swim. Whether we’re navigating busy city sidewalks, forest trails, quiet living rooms, or vast oceans, we truly are an international family pushing forward together.
In 2025, the RAMMS spirit shone brighter than ever. Sixty-four of us gathered in Grand Rapids for our annual in-person event, while 125 highly-motivated teammates from 19 countries logged miles in any way possible.
Grand Rapids Team Report
Meetups and Activities
The Grand Rapids weekend began the same way every good RAMMS reunion does – a full breakfast room takeover at our chosen team hotel! There were lots of hugs, laughter, and phrases like “Oh my gosh, it’s so great to finally meet you in person!”
I’m sure there were a few eye rolls from the other hotel patrons but we are a friendly bunch, as noted by the front desk clerk who smile broadly when I told her that more than 40 of us from all around the world were staying in her hotel for the race. She was highly impressed and even let some of our other teammates not staying in the hotel help themselves to waffles and a cup of coffee!
We handed out our colorful shirts, fancy bib belts donated by Derek Stefureac, and orange sunglasses gifted by Sherrie Paulson, which immediately became the unofficial fashion accessory of the weekend. Meanwhile, filmmaker Aaron Meissner (Jim and Wendys’ son) arrived with his professional camera gear and began filming teammates for a new promotional video he’s creating for us pro bono. Brian Hile assisted Aaron with organizing interviews and asking questions. Together, their thoughtful questions pulled out emotional stories about diagnosis, resilience, gratitude, and why RAMMS is family. I can’t wait to see the final product!
Ryan Weller led the traditional three-mile shakeout run. Shortly after the group of nine left the lobby, it started drizzling. By the time they reached their 1.5-mile turnaround point, the wind picked up and a full deluge arrived! To make matters even worse, they had to run straight uphill all the way back to the hotel. The group returned completely soaked but thoroughly exhilarated and ready for a second (or third) cup of coffee to warm up!
Afterwards, a bunch of us headed to the race expo at the YMCA. It was small but functional affair. We secured press passes for Aaron and his girlfriend Ellie so they could film at the start and finish lines. Then we headed straight to New Holland Brewing for our big Saturday meet-up.
Two long tables were reserved for RAMMS, and in true fashion, we overflowed into the surrounding bar space. With great food and excellent beer, the afternoon felt festive without being overly tiresome. We typically have a lunch gathering the day before the race. Smaller groups are formed for dinner so people can fuel according to their preferred pre-race diets.
Grand Rapids Team Highlights
It was an early morning of nervous excitement down in the breakfast room. The hotel staff set out food early for the runners, and even had bananas and bottled water to take out. Soon we were a sea of cerulean blue shirts heading out into the darkness for the 2-mile walk to the race start.
The YMCA allowed runners to hang inside their facility before the race, which helped us keep warm and dry. Spirits stayed high despite the drizzle, cold wind and some foibles… The zipper on my fuel belt broke before the race, Brian’s gloves went missing, and someone discovered their race nutrition was still back at the hotel, but RAMMS adapted like we always do.
It’s a smaller photo gallery this year because of the rain, so soak it all in and enjoy the personal stories below!
Fiona “CMT Warrior” Doyle and Emma Doyle
Fiona and her daughter Emma traveled all the way from Cork, Ireland, bringing with them their grit, humor, and heart. Fiona lives with CMT and tore an ankle ligament one week before leaving for the US. She admits she cried a lot when it happened but “delusion” set in and she was determined to come no matter what!
And she certainly showed up! Fiona ran the entire 26.2 miles as planned. She wasn’t as fast as usual, but powered onward. She figured she had already travelled all this way to America so she was going to finish not matter what!
Emma, meanwhile, claimed she felt right at home running in the cold rain. So at home, in fact, that she stormed through the marathon in just over three hours and won 3rd place overall. Congratulations!
Ryan Halloran’s Winning Debut
Our newest MS Warrior from Australia, Ryan Halloran, learned about RAMMS a just 3 months prior to Grand Rapids. His debut RAMMS performance is one that I will never forget.
Mile 5 was a boring, muddy stretch of vast nothingness. My eyes were downcast because I was trying to avoid the puddles. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a pack of speedy runners already heading back to the finish line. In the mix was a blurry blue shirt. It was Ryan! I cheered for him, but I don’t think he even heard me because he zoomed by so fast!
This was Ryan’s first ever half marathon. He absolutely crushed it with a blazing 81-minute finish. He won his age group! But it was Ryan’s quiet humility that made his achievement even more endearing.
Jim Meissner – 38 Years in the Making
Last year in Hartford, Jim brought a little of his own cray-cray to the race by running the half marathon with a fractured fifth metatarsal. It must not have been enough excitement because in Grand Rapids he tackled his first marathon in 38 years!
The race wasn’t just physically demanding but it was mentally draining at times, as the rain poured relentlessly for hours. But perhaps the most gratifying moment for Jim had nothing to do with a medal. At the finish line he was greeted by Aaron with the sweetest words, “I’m so proud of you, Dad.”
Family Triumph
Speaking of proud children, Caryl Pawlusiak paced her dad, Mike Horne, through his very first marathon. I cannot stress this enough – the conditions were far from ideal. The winds were 20 mph with gusts up to 37 mph! It was raining sideways! But the two of them kept moving forward together, step by step. At the end, Caryl said it will always be her “favorite finish line.”
“We didn’t let the rain take our joy. In fact, the day no one would have chosen for a marathon made the finish line that much sweeter. Chase the goal, despite the obstacles and find the joy in the hard.”
MS Support Hero Jake Pawlusiak was also triumphant that morning. He ran the half and absolutely smashed his half marathon PR! Safe to say, there was a whole lot for the Pawlusiak – Horn Family to celebrate that evening!
The RAMMS Dramedy
It’s not unusual for RAMMS relay teams to experience a little pre-race drama whether it’s recruiting dependable teammates or making sure everyone gets registered on time. But our All MS Warrior marathon relay team — Ellie Tillotson (leg 1), Ferrando Heward (leg 2), Cindy Peck (leg 3), Valerie Suwanseree (leg 4), and Janine Boyette (leg 5) — seemed to have broken that curse in Grand Rapids.
Even with Ellie wearing a full arm cast and dealing with a fractured rib, there was no way she was letting anyone down. (Plus, she was also signed up for the half marathon and continued on running after completing her relay segment!)
But chaos did not escape the team once the race started.
As Cindy waited for Ferrando, she began to grow concerned. It was taking him much longer than expected to arrive. She reached out to Valerie and Janine, but no one knew where he was.
“Anyone know when I should start to worry? I think I am the last relay person left…”
With the exchange point about to close, a race official told Cindy she should just start her segment. So she took off, hoping everything would be okay.
Valerie (leg 4) and Janine (leg 5) shared the same check point. As they were waiting for Cindy, the wind really picked up and it was raining sideways. Since Valerie is from Thailand, she was absolutely freezing, so she made the call to start running before Cindy arrived.
It’s a good thing she did because her route had been changed at the last minute and she had to run farther than expected. And if that wasn’t enough, when Valerie finally reached the exchange to finally hand off to Janine… Janine had already left… and so did the the shuttle bus back to the finish because the driver thought all runners for segment 4 were done. Valerie had had to wait while volunteers packed everything up before eventually catching a ride back.
Janine, who is from Alaska and accustomed to the cold, went on to complete the final leg strong, even collecting Valerie’s finisher’s medal. Valerie never officially crossing the finish line herself because her ride dropped her straight at the beer tent. That is so very RAMMS.
And through it all, one question still lingered:
Where was Ferrando?
Janine sent out a message to the entire RAMMS WhatsApp group:
“If anyone sees Ferrando, let us know. Cindy never saw him at the relay exchange, so she finally just went ahead and started her leg. I’m sure all is well, just want to be sure someone puts eyes on him. In Alaska I’d be worried about 🐻 or 🫎, but in Michigan… probably not a concern.”
Thankfully, Ferrando was eventually found safe and sound, warming up inside the YMCA.
In the end, it is something our fearless relay team can no doubt share for many years to come! It was a classic RAMMS dramedy!
Many More Excellent Achievements
There were many more achievements that day. Carly Kennedy, our incredible supporter from Hanger Clinic, ran her very first half marathon with RAMMS. Carly is a competitive HYROX athlete (a sport that combines endurance and dynamic strength workouts, which are basically all the things that make my skinny runner arms cry). It was a huge honor to have her come out and play in the rain with us! And she did it with a knee injury, no less.
MS Support Hero Debbie Walker has been with RAMMS since 2021, but had to miss out on Hartford last year because of a torn meniscus. Grand Rapids was her comeback race. She was so nervous because she did not feel she was able to train well and had not run that far since surgery. But she persevered and her outpouring of emotions at the end got us all misty! RAMMS isn’t about only supporting MS, but we look after our extended family. Her win was our win, too!
There was another kind of achievement earned by several of us. The Minnesota Party Crew (Jackie Basgaard, Brenda Hulke, Kelly Hulke, Michelle Wolf and Sarah Urtel), Gareth Jones from Wales, Brian, and yours truly took on the Brewsader Challenge. The goal was to visit eight breweries and earn a coveted Brewsader t-shirt. Not only are we efficient runners, but we excel in other endurance sports!
Post-Race Celebration
Our post-race celebration at The Mitten Brewing Company was the perfect exclamation to cap off the day. Housed in an historic fire station and transformed into a baseball-themed brewery, it had just the right mix of charm and character even though the fireman’s pole was closed off!
There was lots of laughter, free-flowing conversation (and beer!), and plenty of delicious pizza to go around. You know we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves because the final receipt was so long that it stretched out to nearly my height! Proof that our incredible sponsors, Hanger Clinic and Thuasne, take very good care of us.
Worldwide Team Report
While the Grand Rapids crew braved rain and wind, our Worldwide Team carried the RAMMS banner across the continents demonstrating resiliency and strength. From Jeana Clary speeding around a track in Texas for her Sunday Runday to Roe Collopy and Bernie Maiorana enjoying a brisk stroll on the Seaside Boardwalk in New Jersey, and from Michele Meyers sweating it out at Orangetheory in Virginia to Edita Schröppel running a breezy half marathon in Switzerland – RAMMS was everywhere!
This extraordinary group is the very reason we are able to make a global impact. They join us in solidarity each year, providing motivation for those of us participating in the in-person events. And in some cases, they are the inspiration behind it all just like Gayle Alderfer Fischer, who inspired Larry to take up the sport in the first place!
Thuasne Joins RAMMS
While visiting California for business meetings, our global Thuasne superstars Damien Rivoire (France) and Tim Cooney (England) teamed up for a RAMMS beach run, showing how friendships stretch across borders and time zones. Their photo radiates pure joy and they exemplify how Thuasne has become part of our story.
I cannot thank enough my amazing friends Damien and Tim for their years of RAMMS support, as well as keeping me in the sport I love most. Tim is the brilliant mind behind the dynamic SpryStep AFO that I wear to keep me safe from tripping and falling. Damien has been a dedicated MS Support Hero ever since our team began in 2018. He promotes our mission and rallies his company to stand alongside us. This year, Thuasne supported us from England, France, Germany and Romania. They showed their commitment goes far beyond sponsorships and that they embody their mission to help people stay active.
Japan MS Society
From the US West Coast to Japan, RAMMS connections span the continents. Our longtime friend George Nakajima, Japan MS Society Secretary General, led the annual RAMMS group walk through Tokyo’s vibrant Asakusa district. They required rain gear just like us in Grand Rapids and they simply smile through it all. Across the country in Nagasaki, our MS Warrior Takashi Fukutomi enjoyed beautiful sunny weather while proudly sporting his RAMMS shirt. Global spirit was definitely on display in Japan.
Jamaica Joins the Movement
Our MS Warrior, Mikhail Jackson from Kingston, joined RAMMS for the first time this year and made a powerful statement about character and the possibilities when a community stands together.
Just weeks before the country’s signature Reggae Half Marathon, Jamaica was reeling from the effects of Hurricane Melissa, which had devastated parts of the island. Despite the challenges and uncertainty surrounding the event, Mikhail showed up on race day with determination and pride.
The race started before sunrise to help beat the heat and the route featured bands playing the familiar reggae beat. From start to finish, including Red Stripe beer and fresh coconut water straight from the source, the race organizers created a truly memorable experience. It was more than just a race; it was a celebration of resilience, community, and moving forward together.
Mikhail proudly wore his RAMMS shirt as he ran the half marathon, representing not only our team, but carrying the spirit of Jamaica in his heart.
Treadmill Queen Julie Concannon
On a different scale, Treadmill Queen Julie Concannon showed determination and community spirit in her own way. Julie has been part of RAMMS since 2019 as an MS Support Hero, and her 2025 event was to walk a half marathon entirely on her treadmill.
In the months leading up to Grand Rapids, Julie set monthly goals and logged every mile indoors. With each achievement, she turned each milestone into something even more meaningful by donating to our DIY MS fundraiser.
One month before race weekend, Julie completed her half marathon in 3:41:21, totally beating her 4-hour goal. She wasn’t even sure it was possible, but she did it!
Julie shed “happy, happy, HAPPY tears” when she finished and immediately followed it up with yet another (large!) donation commemorating her journey.
“I do this for my little sister who has MS and for every single person whose life is affected by MS. Together we will make it to the finish line.”
We are so proud of her and her post sparked a cascade of love and support from teammates all over the world.
Mirjam Randa Hermansen Runs an Epic Course
While Julie logged her indoor miles, Mirjam Randa Hermansen ran on iconic roads. Representing both Norway and RAMMS, Mirjam traveled all the way to Greece to take on the Athens Marathon — The Authentic.
There is nothing easy about this historic course. More than half of the race is a steady uphill climb, and the 2025 edition was unseasonably hot and humid. Mirjam described it as “insanely tough.” But she embraced the challenge, and her reward was the overwhelming sense of pride and awe as she crossed the finish line inside the 2,300-year-old Panathenaic Stadium.
Kym Russell and Brad Warrens’ Australian Adventures
Kym Russell and Brad Warren are a power couple who love to challenge themselves on difficult trail races across Australia. Per usual, they planned an impressive feat for their 2025 RAMMS event. Things didn’t quite go according to plan. Though I must say, Kym’s recap on our private Facebook page was pretty entertaining!
Their goal was to start off with a warmup Parkrun 5K in Yackandandah. Kym and Brad are working on the Parkrun Alphabet Challenge and used this one to check off “Y.” Kym said it was perfect because it was only 200 meters away from the start line of the 28K “Beer Run” race.
They donned their best beer-themed running outfits (with their RAMMS shirts, of course) and hit the trails for a “beautiful, flowy, fun and mostly uphill” course. Kym and Brad love this type of terrain as you may recall their insane multi-day trail race across the top of the Victorian Alps.
Unfortunately, Kym was not in the best of health. For several weeks she had been battling injury, illness, and a possible MS relapse. She knew it would be a tough day, but did not know the extent until cramping in her calves set in at 15K. Brad encouraged Kym to press on to the 18K aid station where their friends were waiting. They all planned to walk the last 10K together. She really tried, but suddenly her body suddenly screamed, “NO!” Kym says she experienced the most intense cramping she has ever had. She was on the ground screaming so loudly in “a full Linda Blair in The Exorcist moment… minus the pea soup!!”
Brad managed to help her unlock her calves and she hobbled back to the aid station. Kym made the smart (and safe) call to end her race and catch a ride to the finish where she claimed her well-earned free beer.
It may have been Kym’s first DNF, but it was still a day filled with great company, the BEST outfits, and free beer! She is the perfect reflection of the RAMMS spirit… minus the pea soup!
Phoebe Walker’s Grace Under Pressure
Not all RAMMS achievements happen on a race course. Phoebe Walker’s event took place on the dance floor in high heels! Just six weeks after breaking her foot and dealing with ongoing tendon issues, Phoebe squeezed into her dance shoes for the Grand National Championship in Miami, Florida!
For those unfamiliar with ballroom dance competitions, dancers are judged on technique, timing, posture, and partnership across multiple routines and styles. Phoebe competed in both International Standard (classic ballroom styles) and American Smooth (a blend of traditional ballroom with more expressive choreography).
Phoebe earned 1st place in the International Standard Challenge and 2nd place in the American Smooth Scholarship Challenge. It is an incredible achievement under any circumstances… let alone while recovering from a terrible injury.
Meanwhile, with my two left feet (wearing flat shoes), I am in complete awe of Phoebe’s seemingly effortless grace!
Lara Smetana is Redefining the 5K
MS is making running more difficult for Lara Smetana but she is not giving up! Instead of stepping away from endurance sports, she is finding joy in long-distance open-water swimming races. She is determined to get in her 5K one way or another!
For her RAMMS event, Lara went backpacking through the Grand Canyon with her partner, David Pertuz, proving that adventure can take many forms. Like Kym, she also earned plenty of compliments on her standout RAMMS shirt!
And in a moment that perfectly captured our global connection, after Grand Rapids, Valerie traveled to Illinois and met Lara in person for the very first time. Of course, they laced up for the “Will Run For Beer” 5K through Lincoln Park in downtown Chicago. Celebrating personal victories and new friendships like these two ladies at the finish line are what makes our team feel like home no matter where we are in the world!
We are RAMMS.
Fundraising, Thank You and Stats
Fundraising
Our RAMMS fundraiser lives under the National MS Society’s DIY MS platform. In 2025, we placed an impressive 17th out of 281 DIY teams, raising a total of $27,095.95. Since launching in 2018, we have raised over $187,000 in support of MS research and programs. That’s no small feat, and it’s entirely thanks to the passion, creativity, and generosity of this amazing team.
Speaking of creativity, my good friend Laura Louie is a Senior Administrator at a major university by day and pottery instructor by night. She led a fundraising Beer Stein workshop and it was a huge success. She was able to donate $800 to the MS Society!
Besides Laura’s class, this year’s fundraising efforts were powered by a strong crew: Shelly Pace, Wendy and Jim Meissner, Caryl and Jake Pawlusiak, Laura Jones, Nora Gocking, Shawn Blaesing, and me. RAMMS is full of movers and shakers, but it’s important to note that fundraising is not a requirement to join the team. Many of our members already manage their own Bike MS, Walk MS, or DIY MS teams, or they support other great causes. No matter what, I’m grateful to every single person who gave their time and effort to help support RAMMS.
Of course, no fundraiser is complete without the support of generous donors. I’m filled with gratitude for the many people who gave to our cause this year, including several people who gave magnanimously: Allie and Adam Hogan, Brian Earp, Kristen and Cameron Snapp, Nancy Lee, Cindy Eisenlohr and Jeff Urschler, Tim Cooney, Janine Boyette, and a few incredibly kind souls who chose to remain anonymous. Thank you, all!
All team members are asked to donate a minimum of $40 each year they join the in-person or Worldwide Team. Many of our teammates donated extra to help cover the obligation for others. Furthermore, two anonymous individuals sponsored a total of 20 people where $40 would have hindered them from joining RAMMS 2025. These wonderful and heartwarming acts of kindness exemplify the high level of support we have for each other.
Thank You
All of this organization could not be done without the help of many players.
This was the fifth year in a row where Hanger Clinic and Thuasne have co-sponsored our post-race celebration dinner. While we are grateful these two great companies support our events, we are even more thankful for their dedication to empowering people with physical challenges. A lot of us on the team experience varying degrees of foot drop. Hanger Clinic has an army of amazing orthotists who can assess and fit patients with ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) to prevent tripping and falling. Many RAMMS AFO-users wear Thuasne’s SpryStep AFO. They have a wide collection of SpryStep styles (6 types of off-the-shelf and custom) to support different needs.
They also co-sponsored our stylish team shirts (plus drop shipping costs). Everyone loved the colorful graphics and many have said it is their favorite design to date! I hear these compliments every year! The shirts are really valued among team members not just because they are high-quality but also because they are keepsakes that hold a lot of special memories! And a couple of teammates even claim that their shirts make them faster runners!
A huge thank you to Brian Hile for preparing and mailing out 34 team shirts to our international members, as well as new teammates who joined after the Headsweats drop shipping deadline.
Every year there is some sort of drama with the mailings. This year, a delivery truck ran over Tim Salmon’s shirt, so Brian had to mail a new one. And poor Daniel Vidoret has not received a new shirt since 2023. Brian mailed Daniel’s 2024 shirt on July 18, 2024. It was returned to us marked “undeliverable” a year later on July 7, 2025! We now hope that our paths will cross in the near future so that our dear Daniel can receive his shirts in person!
Also, thanks to Brian for hoisting my heavy luggage into the overhead bin. I brought 45 team shirts to Grand Rapids. The postage savings by handing out shirts in person was significant!
RAMMS is also very lucky to have backing from the MS Society. Shannon Feeney, Director of DIY Athletics & Finish MS helps me behind the scenes with so many things. Examples: sponsoring the team dinner when we were a new team, sponsoring our shirts when funding was tight during the pandemic, using their legal team when the Richmond team hotel tried to stick me with a $6000+ hotel bill, providing local support at event locations, promoting the team on social channels, and much more. I am always grateful for their unwavering support!
By the Numbers
- 189 total teammates
- 98 MS Warriors and 91 MS Support Heroes
- 64 teammates in Grand Rapids
- 125 were worldwide teammates from 6 continents: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America and South America
- Worldwide teammates represented 19 Countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Norway, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Wales, USA
- 35 US States + DC and PR: AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
- 2 Canadian provinces: AB and NB
- Worldwide MS organizations that promoted RAMMS: Japan and US
Next Event
Our 9th annual RAMMS gathering will take place at the Portland (Oregon) Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K on October 4, 2026 followed by… Athens (Greece) Marathon, 10K and 5K on November 8, 2026.
As of March 31st, we have 41 teammates already registered for Portland and 38 members will meet in Athens.
Email runamyelinmyshoes@gmail.com to join the movement. Details can also be found here: https://runamyelinmyshoes.org/ramms-2026/
We’d love to welcome you into the RAMMS family.