Racing for Solutions: Jean McCrady
A longtime Double Helix Dash runner establishes a legacy benefitting HudsonAlpha's neurodegenerative disease research.
Participating in HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology's Double Helix Dash might be a way for runners to get another 5K under their belt, but it is also a way to take care of future generations.
Funds raised from the Double Helix Dash benefit the Institute's research on childhood genetic disorders, as well as the Smith Family Clinic for Genomic Medicine, a medical clinic that helps children and families struggling with undiagnosed diseases to find answers.
Jean McCrady has only missed a few Double Helix Dash races since the annual 5K and 1-mile fun run started in 2012. Running has been an important part of Jean's recent years with her husband, Mac. Though Mac can no longer run due to heart issues, at age 89, Jean still participates in many races throughout the year and has been a steady runner since the age of 81. She has set 26 Alabama state records for 1 mile races up to 10Ks, most of which still stand, and often places first in her age group. She looks forward to setting even more records after she turns 90 this summer.
"Running the Double Helix Dash each year allows me to feel connected to HudsonAlpha's research," said Jean. "It's another way that I can support the Institute's work."
In addition to being a loyal Double Helix Dash runner, Jean has been a strong advocate for and supporter of HudsonAlpha's mission. After becoming connected with HudsonAlpha, she and Mac decided to take a tour of the Institute to learn more. That tour led the couple to take the Biotech 101 and 201 courses, the precursor to HudsonAlpha U Nights, the Institute's new public education programs. Soon after, they decided to increase their philanthropic support of HudsonAlpha.
"With every exposure we've had to what HudsonAlpha is doing, we have become more and more committed to helping sustain the Institute's work," said Jean.
Jean and Mac are particularly passionate about supporting the Institute's research on Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative disease that affects roughly 55 million people worldwide. They both have strong family histories of Alzheimer's, and both have lost loved ones to the disease.
Though the McCradys do not have children, they feel a responsibility to contribute to the well-being of future generations. When it was time to create a legacy, Jean and Mac chose to designate HudsonAlpha's neurodegenerative research programs as a beneficiary on their retirement account.
"The way I see it, why not give? There's nothing we can do personally to prevent people from getting Alzheimer's disease, but we know who can help," said Jean. "We can help in the fight against Alzheimer's by supporting the scientists at HudsonAlpha who are working to find answers. HudsonAlpha not only knows how to find solutions, but also how to deliver those to the medical community to benefit those who need answers."