STATE COLLEGE — Patients, families and friends of Rowe’s Research Runners will walk, run or roll/wheel their way around the Pennsylvania Military Museum grounds on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.
Rowe’s Research Runners’ 9th Annual One Mile Walk/Run/Roll and Reception is held to raise money for the Chronic Fatigue and Related Disorders Clinic at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. While Dr. Alba Azola is the new clinic director, Dr. Peter Rowe, who the event is named after, is still on the growing clinic’s staff.
In addition to raising money for myalgicencephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, dysautonomia and Long COVID, this event provides a very important opportunity for all the people who attend to connect and support each other and to educate those who have been newly diagnosed. The newly diagnosed patients include those who have months-long lingering symptoms following a COVID infection, commonly referred to as Long COVID.
Adding joy to the gathering will be the presence of Classic Cones, Faces and Spaces Artistry, The Fraser Street Saxes and Alliance of Heroic Hearts.
ME/CFS is characterized by pervasive, overwhelming fatigue that is not improved by rest. ME/CFS often gets worse after any activity, whether it’s physical or mental, referred to as post-exertional malaise. Other symptoms include problems with sleep, thinking and concentrating, pain and dizziness.
Dysautonomia refers to dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. The ANS controls involuntary body functions like breathing, heartbeat, and digestion. Symptoms are wide ranging and can include problems with the regulation of heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, perspiration, lightheadedness, feeling faint or passing out.
Estimates of the prevalence of ME/CFS range between 5-9 million Americans and 3-10 million Americans with Long COVID.
Dr. Rowe, a world-renowned physician, and his clinic staff are part of only a small number of specialists in the U.S. who treat these complicated and often debilitating illnesses. Dr. Rowe’s legacy is his commitment to research, mentoring, teaching, advocacy, awareness, and, most of all, patient care. His humanity, intelligence, compassion, empathy, determination, and sense of humor are extraordinary.
Though Dr. Rowe is on the staff at Johns Hopkins, his impact is local. Dr. Rowe’s local connection is due to one of his patients, Emily Steffensmeier, who founded this event and has organized it for the past eight years.
Steffensmeier originally started raising money from friends and family for her 39th birthday in 2014. Fundraising has expanded since the first year’s effort and has accumulated over $425,000. This year’s fundraising goal is $75,000.
Early on, money raised from the annual RRR event allowed Dr. Rowe to hire research assistants, which has directly resulted in his ability to publish several research papers and continue his work. In the past three years, a nurse, two nurse practitioners, two physicians and a research assistant have joined the clinic team, providing increased clinic time and research.
In the last year alone, the clinic has completed over 1,850 clinic visits, 144 of which were new patients; published 10 papers; and continued to educate medical professionals through dozens of presentations.
Money raised from this year’s RRR will continue to fund the growth of the clinical team, deepen research collaborations to uncover the mechanisms behind ME/CFS, dysautonomia and Long COVID, and educate clinicians.
To register to participate in-person or virtually, to donate, to purchase merch, or to learn more about these illnesses and this event, go to rowesresearchrunners.org.
