FEATURE: Former Tiger Volleyballer Runs For Cure
9/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 14, 2005
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From 1999 to 2002, Lisa Morris played hard for the Mizzou Tiger volleyball team, earning Big 12 All-Academic Conference honors all four years, first team All-Big 12 in 2000, and Big 12 Honorable mention in 2001. Today, Lisa will never be able to play volleyball again.
In January of 2003, Morris was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Now living in Kansas City, Morris and her boyfriend, Ryan Falkenrath, plan to raise $8,400 in support of the cause, with the help of Kansas City - Joints In Motion. Her quest for a cure will continue overseas to Dublin, Ireland, where Morris plans to run alongside Falkenrath in the Dublin Marathon, on Oct. 31.
Joints In Motion is a national program of runners with teams in nearly every chapter of the National Arthritis Foundation. For the Kansas City/Western Missouri Chapter, a team of 10 participants will be running in four marathons in locations such as Dublin, Memphis, Honolulu, and Jacksonville. Morris and Falkenrath are alone in making their trip to overseas.
According to the National Arthritis Foundation, "Rheumatoid Arthritis is an immune disorder in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, leading to pain, swelling and eventually joint deformation."
Since being diagnosed in 2003, Morris underwent a year and a half of doctor's visits and physical therapy as well as different drug regiments. Today, her arthritis is somewhat under control, although she still must continue a rigorous routine of daily pills and weekly injections for the rest of her life.
Fighting Rheumatoid Arthritis has been a daily struggle for Morris since being diagnosed. "I think one of the toughest things about Rheumatoid Arthritis is that it does affect you everyday, and yet it isn't something other people can see and it isn't something other people understand." Morris said.
Morris admits that while the medical improvements made over the last five years have helped, there were many days that where the disease left the former Tiger powerless. "Before I was able to really get it under control, I had days where getting out of bed was hard and I would limp to work, Morris said. "I had days where I couldn't wash my hair or brush my teeth."
In less than two years time, Rheumatoid Arthritis found a way to disrupt Morris' favorite pastime, as she is no longer able to play volleyball or basketball due to an elbow that has been permanently damaged by the immune disorder. It was that elbow injury brought her into the world of running. "I love to be active and compete and I had to find other avenues to do so." Morris said.
Morris thanks Mizzou for her introduction to running. She was forced to redshirt after surgery prior to her freshman year at Mizzou. After a year of rehab she began running again and has yet to stop. "I set out on my first jog and I couldn't stop. I ran five miles my first time out and it was the most amazing feeling. I guess it was one of those things where you don't know how much you enjoy something until it is taken away from you." Morris said.
"If you had asked me a year ago if I would ever run a marathon, I would have told you that people wanting to run 26.2 miles are mentally unstable," Morris said. "The first time I heard about Joints In Motion, I knew it was something I had to do for two reasons: it is the best way I know how I can personally help find a cure for arthritis, and it is a way I can prove to myself that I am not going to let this disease control my life."
Morris refuses to be controlled by anything and is still using her athletic ability and determination as fuel for her cause. As recently as last week, Morris completed an 18 mile run and has her first 20 mile run coming this Saturday, as she trains with the Runner's Edge Group of Kansas City.
For Morris, the journey to Dublin and for a cure will span a lot more than 26.2 miles. The journey doesn't end at the finish line and Morris plans to keep running until a cure is found.
To donate to Morris, you can visit http://kcjointsinmotion.kintera.org and click "Sponsor Participant on the left hand side to search for Lisa. For more information you can visit www.arthritis.org.
