After the Zombie Apocalypse

This past weekend, I ran the Run for Your Lives zombie 5K obstacle course. The race served a couple purposes for me: 1) it was a good motivation to get back into running on a semi-regular basis and 2) it served as a good hook to raise money for vaccine research. Just to recap, I was raising money for the Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. Specifically, they have two projects that caught my attention: creating an improved cholera vaccine and developing a laser-based vaccine adjuvant. My goal was to raise $3,000, and toward that end, I issued a challenge that if I hit $2,000 by race day, I'd double my personal donation. I'll come back to this later.

First, the race.

Break My Bank

Just a quick exhortation and reminder to all of my readers regarding my race to raise funds for improved vaccines. This Saturday, I will face the hordes of undead at Run for Your Lives. My goal in running this race is not only to finish (and stay "alive"), but also to raise money for two projects at the Massachusetts General Hospital Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center (VIC): an improved cholera vaccine and development of a novel laser adjuvant for vaccines (which may replace aluminum adjuvants).

I'm adding another carrot to tempt you to give. The folks at MGH have been great in getting me updates as to how much money I've raised. As of this writing, I'm at slightly over $1,000 raised for VIC. If my total hits $2,000 by Saturday, May 5, I will double my own personal donation. If you have not given, please consider doing so. You can find more information on my blog or on this site MGH helped me set up. If you want to skip the discussion about the project and just make a gift, you can go to the actual donation page.

MGH is a registered 501(c)(3), so donations are tax deductible. You might also want to contact your employer to inquire about matching gifts. Most companies will match donations to hospitals above a certain amount (usually $25). Finally, if you happen to live outside the U.S., keep in mind that if successful, this research would have a global impact.

So, make a gift, tell your friends and make me double my own gift.

Help Me, Interwebz! You're My Only Hope!

Something is coming. I've heard strange noises coming from the cemetery I pass every day. People in the neighborhood seem more tense; they glance around furtively, spending as little time as possible outside, and when they do, they run. There used to be birds, too. It has become so very, very quiet. And my area isn't the only one. It seems to be spreading, heading north. If my calculations are correct, it looks like whatever this is will converge on Amesbury, MA in just a few weeks.

A zombie apocalypse is coming. The dead will rise, forcing people to run for their lives. On May 5, 2012, the Amesbury Sports Park will be transformed into a 5K obstacle course...with zombies! Runners will need to make it past twelve natural and man-made obstacles, all while trying to avoid being eaten. And I am going to be among them. The runners, that is, not the zombies. At least, I'm going to try to not become a zombie.

But I need your help. "How?" you ask? Read on.