FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE

RUNNING FOR A REASON

Hey, I'm Ty.

I have ankylosing spondylitis, a lifelong disease that slowly fuses your spine. I’m running across the continent to raise awareness for this condition that’s quietly wrecking lives and turning basic movement into a daily game of What’s going to hurt today?

I’m not an athlete — just a guy with a brutal spine condition who has decided to break the silence and prove that even when you’re falling apart, you can still show up and do something powerful.

About Ankylosing Spondylitis

The Motivation

Ankylosing spondylitis. It sounds like a made-up spell, right? I can assure you, it's very real. There’s no cure. It’s mostly invisible. And it quietly wrecks a lot of lives — physically, mentally, and emotionally. Mine included.

For years, I thought I was just weak. That I couldn’t handle what others somehow managed. But the more people I talked to, the more I realized: I wasn’t alone. Turns out, a lot of people with this condition are quietly drowning in the same way — and pretending they’re fine.

So, naturally, I decided to run across the continent. But first, I’m kicking things off with a Tip-to-Tip run across Vancouver Island — because apparently, slowly ruining my joints one province at a time felt like a great warm-up. All aboard the hype train. Docking announcements coming soon. No refunds. Minimal planning. Just vibes and Voltaren.

Yes. Run. With a spine condition. Do I know what I’m doing? Not even remotely. Am I likely to fall apart mid-run? Spiritually, yes. But I’m doing it anyway — to drag this invisible disease into the light, and to show the real, unfiltered mess of living with it.

This isn’t a polished “inspiration journey.” I’m not an athlete or a guru. I’m just a guy who’s decided silence helps no one, and who deeply believes we can still do incredible things even when our bodies are failing us. I want people with this condition — or any invisible battle — to know they’re not alone. That even if your body is falling apart and your brain’s throwing in the towel, there’s still something left in you worth showing up for.

So if nothing else, follow along for the comedy of watching a creaky man hobble across a continent with too much heart and not enough cartilage.

Join the Journey

Vancouver Island - Tip-to-Tip

OCTOBER 12, 2025

A full-length run from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to the south — a multi-day physical and mental challenge aimed at showing what’s possible, even with a body that fights back.

FUEL THE RUN

Arctic to Baja - Chafing for Change

COMING JULY 2026

The biggest challenge yet. From Tuktoyuktuk to Cabo San Lucas. 7500+ kms. A run for visibility, connection, and the global AS community. More details coming soon.

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Glad you asked. Ankylosing Spondylitis — or AS, because saying it out loud sounds like a sneeze — is a chronic autoimmune disease that basically treats your spine like a welding project. Over time, it can fuse your vertebrae together, turning your back into a very sad, very stiff question mark.

But wait — it’s not just the spine! AS can also mess with your hips, shoulders, eyes, skin, ankles, internal organs, and occasionally, your will to live. It brings along bonus features like crushing fatigue, mental health spirals, and the uncanny ability to look “totally fine” while your body aggressively betrays you.

Again. There’s no cure. And for most, it means years of invisible suffering, awkward job conversations, canceled plans, and a constant battle with a body that doesn’t take requests — all while trying to function in a world that has no idea you’re hurting. Shaka brah.

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