Page 14 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2022

COAST NOTE
Dr. Van Wurm Zebra Run Chairman
RUN for the ZEBRAS
story by Lori Beth Susman photos courtesy of United MSD Foundation
The zebra has become the unofficial mascot of the rare disease community, as physicians are typically taught that when diagnosing patients, they should look for more common diseases first. “Look for horses, not zebras,” these doctors are told. In some cases, however, there are children with rare diseases – those are the zebras.
The 5th Annual Zebra Run for Rare Disease to benefit the United MSD Foundation takes place Saturday, March 5, at Fort Maurepas Park in Ocean Springs with a virtual component, as well. There are children with rare diseases here on the Gulf Coast, such as Willow Cannan, whose mother Amber Olsen
is executive director and founder of the United MSD Foundation. She created the foundation shortly after Willow
was diagnosed in 2016. The 5K Race & 1 Mile Fun Run is just one of the fundraising events for the foundation.
“From its beginning in 2018, the Zebra Run has grown each year, both in number
of participants and supporters to dollars raised,” said Mary Douglas, public relations and marketing specialist for United MSD Foundation. “In 2021, we introduced a virtual component, both to offer race participants a socially distanced way to participate and to encourage participation from around the country and the world.”
More than 500 runners from 47 states and three countries participated virtually making 2021 the biggest Zebra Run
to date, raising nearly $60,000. “This year, we are back in Ocean Springs and virtually, and we hope to make it even bigger,” she added.
The Zebra Run benefits the United MSD Foundation, which has been working to find a cure for diseases such as Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency, the rare disease Willow was diagnosed with. “The treatment that we have been funding has been proven, it’s so promising, and the dollars raised from this run will help to
complete the critical and necessary steps to conduct our clinical trial and treat children,” Douglas said. “We want people who support our work and those who may not know us to know the science is there. We are no longer finding the cure, we are funding it.”
Dr. Van Wurm, Mississippi Pediatrics Associates, is this year’s race chairman. Douglas said his commitment to United MSD Foundation makes him the perfect fit for leading the planning efforts of the Zebra Run.
For more event information or to register for the in-person run or the virtual event, visit www.curemsd.org/zebrarun. On race day, on-site registration opens at 7:30 a.m. The one mile fun run starts at 8, and the 5K race starts at 9 a.m.
www.curemsd.org
14 | February 2022 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living