Jeff McGonnell

By KARYN JESTER
DavidsonNews.net

Don’t be alarmed if you see Davidson resident Jeff McGonnell running nonstop circles around the Green on Friday and Saturday, June 4-5. He hasn’t lost his mind. He’ll be running for 24 hours to raise funds and awareness for the Batten Disease Support and Research Association.

The event, sponsored by the Town of Davidson and BirdNest Music, is called “24 hour Loopy for a Cause.”

McGonnell will be running a pre-determined loop on the Green, seven loops being equal to one mile. He hopes to run around 100 miles in the 24 hours.

While he runs, there will be live music. Musicians scheduled to play include Billy Jones, Rick Spreitzer, Rusty Knox, Rob McHale and more. There will also be food, games and other fun activities for kids.

McGonnell has been an ultra runner for more than 20 years, competing in more than 150 races longer than a marathon (26.2 miles). For the right donation, this serious runner will run in a dress juggling pineapples and whistling pop tunes. Anyone can join in a few laps of the run for a small donation.

The donations will be going toward Batten Disease research. Batten disease is a genetic neurological disorder that affectes children and adolescents. Children with the disease suffer mental impairment, seizures, and loss of sight and motor skills. As these conditions worsen, the affected children can become blind, bedridden, and unable to communicate. At this point, Batten disease is always fatal and cannot be prevented.

McGonnell has been raising money for Batten disease ever since learning about it through friends. “My son Ben has 2 friends – brothers Jeremy and Brandon Hawkins (ages 9 and 13), who have the juvenile form of Batten Disease,” he said.  A couple of weekends ago, he organized a benefit road race in Concord. Next on his schedule is the Davidson 24-hour run.

You can find out more about the disease and The Batten Disease Support and Research Association at http://www.bdsra.org.

Come out and share your support from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 4 and 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, June 5. For details and music lineup visit loopy4acause.blogspot.com or call 704-907-6758.