Newswise — (Kansas City, MO): The Vasculitis Foundation (VF) is pleased to announce that elite runner and vasculitis patient Brandon Hudgins yesterday became one of only 30 runners in the nation eligible to compete for a spot on the United States Olympic Team. The USATF trials take place July 1-10 in Eugene, Oregon.
“The Vasculitis Foundation could not be more proud of Brandon,” said Joyce A. Kullman, executive director of the Foundation. "To say that we're excited about his reaching his goal is a huge understatement. We are his biggest cheerleaders."
This spring the Foundation partnered with Hudgins to launch "Victory Over Vasculitis: VF Team Brandon," an initiative designed to support his efforts to increase awareness of his rare, autoimmune disease while attempting to qualify for the Olympic Team. The Vasculitis Foundation is committed to improving the lives of current and future patients and serves as the definitive resource for those seeking information about vasculitis.
"Through Brandon's ongoing athletic training and boundless energy as an advocate for vasculitis awareness," says Kullman, "he exemplifies our philosophy that patients with autoimmune diseases can live rich, full lives." She notes that, since 1986, the Vasculitis Foundation has empowered patients through disease education, raising awareness of vasculitis in the general public and medical community, and funding research to determine the cause, develop more effective treatments, and discover a cure.
Hudgins, 28, a native of Rock Hill, S.C. who began running competitively as a high school student, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education: Fitness and Wellness from Winthrop University and a Master’s in Exercise Science: Strength and Conditioning from Appalachian State University. His illness was diagnosed in 2008 following a seven-month struggle with severe sinus symptoms.
Last summer, Hudgins became only the 448th American to run a mile in less than 4-minutes when he completed the Sir Walter Miler in Raleigh, N.C. in 3:59.67. At the time, Runner's World wrote that he was most likely the first to do so after overcoming granulomatosis with polyangitis (GPA), a rare autoimmune disease that affects the blood vessels, and quoted him as saying that, "If you want something badly enough and have the courage to chase your dreams, you have to be willing to walk through the dark places to get them.”
Partnering With the Vasculitis Foundation
A passionate advocate for vasculitis awareness, Hudgins formed a partnership with the VF this year because he wants to help raise awareness among the medical community and the public about the needs and challenges facing all patients with autoimmune vasculitis. Through the campaign "Victory Over Vasculitis: VF Team Brandon," Hudgins leverages his public profile to create awareness of autoimmune diseases.
As part of the campaign, Hudgins invites the public to become involved in VF Team Brandon’s Virtual 100K challenge. In addition to supporting his Olympic training, the team has set a goal to collectively run or walk 100,000 miles by the end of 2016. To date, more than (Number) people from around the world have joined the team. Each member is asked to log his or her weekly miles, which are counted toward the grand goal. There is no cost for participating. More information is available at www.vasculitisfoundation.org.
Upcoming Races
In addition to competing in the USATF Olympic Team Trials, Brandon plans to take part in the Sir Walter Miler in Raleigh, North Carolina (August 5), the West Chester Road Mile in West Chester, Pennsylvania (August 11), the Liberty Mile in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (August 26), and Grandma’s Minnesota Mile in Duluth, Minnesota (September 11).
About the Vasculitis Foundation
Since 1986, the Vasculitis Foundation has empowered patients through disease education, raising awareness of vasculitis in the general public and medical community, and funding research to determine the cause, develop more effective treatments, and discover a cure. The VF is committed to improving the lives of current and future patients and is positioned as the definitive resource for patients, family members, medical professionals and researchers seeking information about vasculitis.
For information about vasculitis and the Vasculitis Foundation please visit www.vasculitisfoundation.org.
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