Robin's Perch

• Tell a friend about
• Create a page like this
• Please bookmark this page.

Robin Morhouse

My Mom, Robin Morhouse, fought ALS head on until it took her life. My family always joked that if there is anyone that can beat and outlive an unbeatable, uncurable, untreatable disease it was her. She was as tough as nails. She died in October, 2005 in Summit, NJ. Her biggest passion in life was her family. Her favorite place on earth was her beloved haven on Northern Lake George in the Adirondacks. She was a voice and advocate for the Benedictine School, a school dedicated to assisting individuals with disabilities. She was a dedicated and loyal Mom, Wife, Sister, Cousin and Friend. As I grow, raise a family and create a loving home I carry her close and hope to be half as tough as her. Mom you are and continue to be an inspiration and example of how to face life head on.

Outdoor Mindset - Running for a Cure

Now I'm running to help raise awareness and find a cure for ALS.

I was very involved in my mothers life with ALS in general but specifically while she was in her last few years combating the disease with strength and hope until her last breath. Ever since then I've wanted to do something to help raise awareness and money towards a cure for ALS. But first I needed to take a step away from the disease and breath again.

So I got married, moved to a few countries, worked, had a few kids and breathed fresh air again. Here, at 37 years old life is interesting. I take a look at where I am, who I am and what that means. As a Wife and Mom of 2 small kids, I realize now just how much my Mom did. Now; not then, but now. I can't even tell her that I appreciate it. Now when she deserves it. Afterall she and my Dad raised me to be a good human with values, morals and live life to the fullest and most importantly be happy with what I choose to do. Now with kids of my own I realize just how hard that is. She made it seem easy. I took it for granted as most kids do. The hardest part is I just wish I could say to her, "Mom you were right." "Mom, thanks." "Mom, how do I raise my kids?" I can't so, the least I can do is get my butt off the ellyptical machine, buy some running shoes and try something new in life. Something that is hard. Nothing I've done before and will require me to push myself beyond limits. It's the least I can do to help make sure no one else ever has to watch a loved one live with and die from ALS - endure a incurable, terminal illness with superhuman strength until their last breath.

I am from New Jersey but now living in Djursholm, Sweden (a little town outside of Stockholm). As I was emersed on facebook, I saw a friends post about this amazing organization called Outdoor Mindset, http://www.outdoormindset.org . It's an organization who's mantra is: to unite and inspire people affected by neurological challenges through a common passion for the outdoors. It screamed my name and therein began the end of my search of figuring out how to raise awareness for ALS. I emmersed myself in the website and immediately signed up and reached out.

Their mantra is uniting people affected by neurological challenges; they immediately connected me to another woman, who also lost her Mom to ALS. Together, from across the globe as I am in Sweden and she is in Colorado, we aim to raise awareness and spread the word on what this tragic disease is. So, please follow us on our journey and get to know us on our mission to make a difference with the hopes of finding a cure for and raising awareness about ALS.

Our wish and mission - Please donate to my cause on this site and then go to http://blog.outdoormindset.org/ and follow us and our story on our blog in more detail.

Now the best part is following us on our path as we run. I will share my emotions as a caregiver and daughter to someone with ALS. We hope to reach others affected by ALS or any neurological challenge on our blog. Oh, and likely a few belly aches and pains as we train and keep it real.

I'm not exactly a natural runner but I figured if my mom can endure a 5 year plus battle with ALS with superhuman strength, head on and with relentless hope then, well, I can run a half marathon. I hope.

So I'm running. I'm running for all of you living with ALS, for all of you with a loved one living with ALS, for my friend Jan across the globe from me who's mother died from ALS, for all of you that have lost the battle to ALS, for all of you that know what ALS is and want to give it the big finger and for all of you that want to take the stairs but have to take the elevator because of ALS. I'm running for you Dad who would've gone to the poorhouse figuring out how to fight this disease for her with all of the homeopathic, holistic and cutting edge non-insured covered drugs and procedures with the hope of saving your love and soul mate. I'm running this for you Mom - my inspiration on how to fight and live large until the end.

Go go: http://blog.outdoormindset.org/ to follow our blog as we train. Share our story. And if you're interested check out the site to understand all that this wonderful organization does to help everyone affected by any neurological challenge and how getting outdoors in any shape or form can heal.

Stockholm Half Marathon

September 15, 2012
http://www.stockholmhalvmarathon.se/start/

Here I Go.