Dear Family, Friends and all supporters of our Annual Race For Aydan,

As 2011 comes to a close, our thoughts turn to Race For Aydan 2012. The upcoming Walt Disney Marathon Weekend will be held January 6th - 8th. BIG NEWS: This marks our fifth and final year at Walt Disney World!! After raising over $40,000 for the Ronald McDonald House (RMH), the decision was made to “take it on the road”. We are excited about Race For Aydan moving to New Orleans in 2013.

Over the course of the past five years, we have followed Aydan’s growth. His will and strength, not-to-mention his spirit, inspire all those who continue to support the race team year after year. The first two years of this precious boy’s life were arduous. There was a question as to whether or not Aydan would be blind and/or deaf. Elation... he is neither!! By his third birthday, he was making great strides with his therapies. He was determined to make those little legs of his strong enough to stand. He has endured brain surgery, which entailed the insertion of a shunt to enable fluid from his brain to travel to his stomach. This allows him to use parts of his brain that he couldn’t use before (due to the water surrounding his brain). His third birthday was HUGE! He was starting school and was finally able to interact with other children with similar health issues. After a successful jaw reconstruction, a true milestone was realized. The doctors began the process of weaning Aydan off his trach.

Just prior to our 2011 race his trach was removed after having it for four years, and he is now able to breathe through his mouth and nose. This year has been full of “ups” and “downs”. The excitement and anticipation was palpable as he ran in his first Race For Aydan, in January. Many check-ups with the doctors that performed his reconstructive surgery and shunt have followed, and everything is going well (YAY). In April, he started Pre-K at Edgewood Community Developmental School, in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Therapy has continued and he is gaining a good deal of control of his body. He is learning to make choices without verbalizing, by using his hands. July rolled around and his was eating all kinds of food, and LOVING it!! A swallow study was performed in August and much to our dismay it showed that he cannot eat by mouth. It is causing him to aspirate into his lungs so sadly, a feeding tube is placed in his tummy. He started back to school in September, and is continuing his therapy where he works mightily on building the strength in his legs. In the future, he will be having Botox injections. The injections will loosen his hamstrings, allowing the therapist to stretch the muscles, in the hope that our little guy will be able to walk.

The race is not the only thing moving....... Josh, Danielle and Aydan will be relocating to Alaska! Yes, Alaska!! Although we are heavy-hearted that the distance between us will be significantly larger, we hope that this may provide new opportunities for their family. It is with some trepidation, a whole lot of anticipation, and a fair amount of excitement, that they prepare to embark on their new “adventure”. We are proud of Josh, as he answers his call to duty for our country, wherever it may lead him.

As some of you know, Chris Haan is responsible for creating Race For Aydan. With the support and guidance of our cousin Heidi, the event was established as a charity race, in Aydan’s name, to benefit the Greenville Ronald McDonald House The RMH facility and staff have helped Danielle, Josh and Aydan throughout the many hospitalizations he has endured. Our family has witnessed this charity “up close and personal”, and continue to enlighten people about the love, support and kindness the RMH extends to families faced with heartbreaking and life-threatening illnesses that affect their children. We would be remiss if we didn’t extend our gratitude to Chris and our race team, as well as all those who support our event.

We realize that these are difficult economic times, but we ask you to view our website: www.raceforaydan.com. If Aydan’s story touches your heart the way it has ours, please join us in our annual fundraiser to help provide needed resources to the RMH so they may continue to provide other families the opportunity to experience what ours family has been able to for five incredible years!! Contributions can be made by sending along the attached donor form, or online at www.raceforaydan.com. We invite you to visit our website frequently to track our progress and to view photos of Aydan, and the entire race team. As always, we thank you for your consideration and generosity.

God Bless Aydan and the Ronald McDonald House …

The Race For Aydan Team