RFR Teammates Honor Liver Disease at the 2008 Patient Match Program

On Sunday, January 27, 2008, members of this year’s Run for Research® team and patients with liver disease celebrated runners’ efforts to train and fundraise on behalf of liver disease research, education and advocacy at the fifth annual Patient Match Party. Jordan’s Furniture of Reading donated their store as the venue for the fourth year in a row.

RFR team member and Runners Council member, Katie Markunas of South Boston, coordinates the 2008 RFR Patient Match Program and helped spearhead the event. During the party, she spent quality time with the family of her match Anastasia Mulvoy of Medfield, who passed away in 2006 due to complications from the hepatitis C virus. Anastasia’s son, 12 year-old Nick, has undergone medical treatment since birth and is now free of the hepatitis C virus. Nick is paired with runner Scott McKay. Brooke and Sean Mulkerron, parents of 11 month-old Tess who was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer in September 2007, got a chance to spend time with runner Christin Donohue. Mara Lounsbury visited with her match, Kyleigh Burke of Gloucester. Eight-year old Kyleigh suffers from biliary atresia. This is Kyleigh’s fifth year as a patient match for the Run for Research® team.

“The Patient Match Party gives runners an opportunity to understand the mission of the American Liver Foundation. It is our goal to educate these runners so that understand how vital their participation is in our marathon program,” explains Kelly Beckett, Executive Director of the New England Chapter. “I have seen some special relationships stem out of these matches; friendships that stay in tact long after the April race,” explains Beckett.

For more information on the Patient Match Program, please contact Sam Scott at sscott@liverfoundation-ne.org or 617.527.5600