Running For Bella
How one father's love for his daughter became a mission to find a cure — one mile, one pound, one dollar at a time.
Meet Bella
Bella is the reason behind every mile, every training run, and every dollar raised through Beare It For Bella. She is joyful, fierce, creative, and full of life. She also lives with Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD) — a rare genetic condition that has been part of her story since birth.
CMD affects the muscles throughout the body, challenging mobility, strength, and everyday tasks that most of us take for granted. But if you know Bella, you know that CMD doesn't define her spirit.
As her family, we refuse to accept that there isn't a better future ahead for her. That's why we run.
Designed by Bella herself
The Beare It For Bella logo — the cheerful golden retriever in a wheelchair, full of heart and color — was created by Bella. It's a symbol of her strength, her creativity, and the joy she brings to everyone around her.
What is Congenital Muscular Dystrophy?
CMD is a group of rare genetic disorders that cause muscle weakness present from birth or early infancy. More than 30 different gene mutations can cause CMD, affecting thousands of children worldwide. There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for any form of CMD — but that is beginning to change.
26.2 Miles. 25 Pounds. One Reason.
On November 1, 2026, Mark will line up at the start of the TCS New York City Marathon alongside tens of thousands of runners — and he'll be wearing something most of them won't: a 25-pound weighted vest.
The weight is intentional. Every step Mark takes under that extra burden is a small glimpse into the daily reality of children living with CMD: the extra effort required for movements most of us never think twice about, the determination to keep going, the resilience that defines kids like Bella every single day.
"If Bella has to carry this weight every day of her life, the least I can do is carry it for 26.2 miles."
Running a full marathon while carrying an additional 25 pounds is a serious physical challenge. But Mark will tell you plainly — it doesn't come close to what Bella faces. And that's exactly the point.
Every mile is a mile closer to a cure. Every dollar raised funds the research that could change the trajectory of Bella's life and the lives of thousands of other children with CMD.
It Started in 2016
The New York City Marathon isn't Mark's first weighted-vest challenge — not even close. A decade ago, he competed in the Vineman Half Ironman Triathlon: a 1.2-mile open water swim, followed by a 56-mile bike, followed by a 13.1-mile run. All of it in a weighted vest, with "Beare It For Bella" and "Cure CMD" written across his chest.
He crossed that finish line exhausted, emotional, and more determined than ever. That day showed him — and everyone watching — that the love of a parent can push a body far beyond what the mind thinks possible. Now, ten years later, he's raising the stakes. Because the science is closer than ever, and Bella deserves a cure.
Real Progress. Real Hope.
When CureCMD was founded in 2008 by three parents of children with CMD, almost nothing was known about the genetic causes of the disease. Today, the landscape looks fundamentally different — because of donors like the people who have supported Beare It For Bella.
More than $4 million in research grants have been funded through CureCMD's donor community. Two clinical trials for CMD treatments are now underway. Researchers are developing gene therapy and protein replacement approaches targeting specific CMD subtypes — including LAMININ 111 protein replacement therapy, which is on track to move into human clinical trials.
A global patient registry now connects more than 4,000 patients, giving researchers the data they need to design and run effective trials. Scientists have identified the genes behind more than 30 forms of CMD, unlocking the roadmap for targeted therapies.
The progress is real. The momentum is building. But research of this scale requires sustained funding — and that's where you come in.
What Your Donation Funds
CureCMD directs donor funds toward natural history studies, biomarker discovery, patient-derived cell and animal research models, and direct support for clinical trial readiness — all aimed at getting effective treatments to children with CMD as fast as possible.
Why We Need to Keep Going
Despite all the progress, there are still no FDA-approved treatments for any form of CMD. For Bella and thousands of children like her, that means every day without a cure is a day that matters. The research is at a critical inflection point — sustained funding now could be the difference between a treatment that reaches children in time and one that arrives too late.
Science Doesn't Wait. Neither Can We.
CMD research is at a turning point. Gene therapy approaches that were theoretical a decade ago are now entering clinical trials. The tools exist. The knowledge is there. What it needs is funding.
Mark will spend months training — waking up early, running long miles, strapping on that vest day after day — because Bella is worth every ounce of effort. When he crosses the finish line in New York City on November 1st, he'll do it knowing that every person who donated helped carry that weight with him.
Will you be one of them?
Run With Us
You don't need to run a single mile. But you can make every mile Mark runs count. Help us reach $25,000 and fund the life-changing research that brings Bella — and children around the world — closer to a cure.