I'm taking part in the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival 2011 and hoping to raise much needed funds for the NSW PKU Association.

What is PKU (Phenylketonuria)?

Children born with PKU (pronounced fenel-key-tone-urea) are missing an enzyme that breaks down an amino acid (Phenylalanine) in Protein and consequently builds up in the bloodstream becoming toxic. As their bodies cannot break down the Phenylalanine (Phe) it rises to dangerous levels and causes mental retardation, seizures and other brain disorders.

Current treatment is through an unpalatable diet of formula supplemented with a minuscule amount of natural Protein a day which needs to be spread evenly across the day to avoid spiking of the phenylalanine levels.

As PKU patients must adhere to a special diet low in protein for optimal brain development they will never be able to eat meat, chicken, fish, eggs, nuts, cheese, legumes, soy, milk, wheat, gelatin their entire life! The sweetener aspartame present in many diet foods and soft drinks, must also be avoided, as aspartame consists of two amino acids: phenylalanine and aspartic acid.

Essentially their diet will be stricter than a Vegan for life unless we find a CURE!

This September, I’m going to be sweating it out and doing my best to complete a grueling course over the Harbour Bridge, around Sydney's CBD and finishing at the Opera House steps... 

I would really appreciate your support in my endeavor as the sponsorship will directly fund the research project sanctioned by Professor John Christodoulou, Head of the PKU Clinic Westmead Children's Hospital that are working extremely hard to find a cure.

ALL donations you give go directly to the NSW PKU Association to support the research project and are fully tax deductible!

Thank you for your support and helping to make a difference!