Support Kara & Ray Cronin Running 13.1 for Easterseals MA

We are running the Cork City Half Marathon on June 2nd to raise money for Easterseals Massachusetts, an organization Kara served as a board member of for 6 years. Easterseals Massachusetts provides services to ensure that children and adults with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play.

Why I’m running (Kara):

More than anything, I am running for myself and anyone with mental health struggles to show there is always light at the end of the tunnel, even when it’s really, really hard to see.

During the past few years, I have suffered severely with the devastating realities of PTSD. In 2023 I spent multiple months hospitalized to address some of its many debilitating symptoms— nightmares for 6 months straight, extreme levels of paranoia, social isolation, inability to be in public, panic attacks, excruciating levels of sadness, guilt, shame, and hopelessness; and ultimately suicidality. My body felt like it was eating itself alive. With a resting heart rate of 85 bpm, I was in a permanent state of fight or flight. I truly did not think I was going to survive.

During this time my body also started to fail physically with no explanation. I was twitching all over, lost a substantial amount of muscle mass, and was struggling to do basic tasks such as lifting a tray or shampooing my hair. My gait had completely changed, and I was losing my ability to move properly.

After over a year of doctors’ appointments and neurological testing, it was discovered that a medication I was taking to relieve my psychological symptoms had caused an extrapyramidal movement disorder. For over six months and during my most severe state of PTSD, I also withdrew from the medication, taking my last dose in the summer of 2023.

While at my lowest of lows and believing I had run out of options, I discovered acupuncture and holistic healing which saved my life. With each appointment I felt relief I had not felt in years; I started to come back into my body, my heart rate lowered, my brain stopped feeling like it was eating itself alive, and one day at a time, I began getting better. Simultaneously, I started to regain muscle strength.

9 months later, after years of just surviving, I am starting to feel like myself again. Well, a new version of myself. While recovery is never a straight line, most days are good right now; and more than anything, there is hope. Experiencing this profound shift in mental and physical state has motivated me to take on challenges I was completely incapable of doing one year ago, like running a half marathon. And in doing so, I cannot think of an organization I’m more proud to support than Easterseals of MA.

I hope my running this race can serve as a reminder that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. If you or someone you know is struggling in any way, please do not hesitate to reach out to me and I will help in any way I can.

Why I’m running (Ray):

Kara and I have been helping/pulling/pushing each other to set this goal and run to help each other and to raise money to help others. Kara is committed to helping others and I am committed to helping Kara. I am proud to be running these thirteen miles with Kara. Kara has been involved with Easter Seals and it is an organization that we hope to help with our effort.

Passion, optimism, and belief in the future are the fuel Kara and I have been using to get us to the place of running this half marathon. Kara has pushed through adversity much greater than a thirteen-mile run and I would like to believe I have as well in my life. We are doing this together with love as our motivation and with the hope of helping others push through their own adversity.

Support Kara & Ray Cronin running the Cork City Half Marathon

By Easterseals Massachusetts

Support Kara & Ray Cronin running the Cork City Half Marathon