WORTHY CAUSE OF THE WEEK: CureMito! Half-Marathon Raises Funds & Awareness for Children with Mitochondrial Disorders

Team Sarina!, February 2012

It’s that time of year again!

I know most people who say those words at this time of year are talking about the holidays, but I’m talking about the CureMito! Half-Marathon and 5K (or, if you’re me, 3K) Mini-Run.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that I participated in the Half-Marathon last year to support my friend, actress Chandra Wilson, and her daughter, Sarina, who suffers from a Mitochondrial disorder.

Mitochondria are basically the power plants of our cells. Mitochondrial disorders occur when there is a cell dysfunction in the body. When cells are not functioning properly, the body goes into crisis, which manifests in the form of various illnesses and diseases. According to the CureMito! Foundation’s website:

Genetic research is revealing that many, perhaps most, mitochondrial disorders do not fall under the traditional “classical” or severe mitochondrial disease umbrella. Instead, mito patients may suffer from a host of functional disorders such as Autism, SIDS, migraine, chronic fatigue , fibromyalgia, cyclical vomiting syndrome, and IBS, that have a basis in the body’s energy production function.

Sarina’s journey with Mitochondria started with mysterious headaches and vomiting  that eventually led to hospital stays and long absences from school. After over a year of tests, pain, frustration and sheer confusion, Sarina was finally diagnosed with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, which was brought on by a Mitochondrial dysfunction. Chandra enlisted the help of Dr. Richard Boles, who was the only doctor in the Los Angeles area at the time doing research on Mitochondrial diseases. He is currently the Director of the Metabolic and Mitochondrial Disorders Clinic at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

Now serving as the CureMito Ambassador and Spokesperson for the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrom Association (CVSA), Chandra works to ensure that awareness about CVS and Mitochondrial disease continues to grow. Through media appearances and events such as the Pasadena Half-Marathon and Mini-Run, Chandra is partnering right alongside Dr. Boles so that other sufferers of these disorders can experience the same kind of relief that Sarina was able to enjoy once she received her diagnosis. In Chandra’s words “I can’t tell you the life changing results of a chronic disorder sufferer receiving a name for what they have. They go from helpless to hopeful, sick to functional, the uncured to manageable.”

Chandra will be appearing on Access Hollywood and The Talk tomorrow to talk about Thursday’s episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” (which she directed), and which will include a story-line that addresses Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. Check it out:

Tags: Chandra Wilson, CureMito!, CVSA, Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association, Mitochondria, Pasadena Rock & Roll 5K, Pasadena Rock & Roll Half Marathon