Hey, I'm Ty.
I’ve spent the last 20 years living in daily pain. I have Ankylosing Spondylitis, a lifelong arthritic disease that slowly attacks my spine and joints, turning even basic movement into a daily guessing game of what’s going to hurt today. It’s constant, invisible, and widely misunderstood.
I’m not an athlete, just a guy with a condition most people don’t understand, who decided to stop being quiet and prove that even when your body is constantly breaking down, you can still show up, move forward, and do something that matters.
The Motivation
Ankylosing spondylitis. Sounds like a made-up spell, right? But it’s very real. Invisible. Unforgiving. And it can quietly destroy lives, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Mine included.
I grew up watching my mom suffer with it. Misdiagnosis. Years of confusion. Waves of pain would leave her bedridden, unable to work, and exhausted by her own existence. By the time I was 14, I had it too. The pain was relentless. I lost focus, direction, and eventually became dependent and addicted to the medications meant to help me. For years, life felt like a demoralizing uphill battle. I heavily considered ending it all several times.
I spent years searching for some kind of role model. Someone who could give me permission to have hope for myself. There weren’t any that checked that box. Eventually, I learned how to create that hope on my own. Over the past 15 years, I’ve fought, failed, and relentlessly fought again. Slowly, I rebuilt my health and my resilience by reverse engineering my pain. Learning how my body worked, what broke it down, and how to exist, and move forward, in discomfort. And along the way, I’ve realized I have to share with others how I did it. And try to fill the shoes of the role model that I searched for over the last decade and a half.
Now, I’m running almost the entire length of North America. 7,500–8,000 km, a marathon a day. Not to glorify suffering or offer polished inspiration, but to show what’s possible when you refuse to give up. To shine a light on the invisible struggles of chronic illness. To help the public understand these conditions and bridge some of the most difficult social challenges people with arthritis face. And to prove, by walking the walk, that even something that seems impossible can be overcome.
Through this journey, I’ll be sharing my story in schools and rehab facilities, teaching people how to create hope for themselves, build resilience, and navigate overwhelming challenges. Especially when they feel alone. I want anyone with an arthritic condition or invisible battle to see that they are capable of more than they think, and to help them feel seen.
I’m also raising $1 million for arthritis research, because while stories inspire, cures change lives.
This has nothing to do with pity. It’s about truth, grit, and possibility. Showing that with resilience, support, and action, even the most daunting obstacles can be faced head-on.
Arctic to Baja - #MakeArthritisFamous
COMING JULY 2026
The biggest challenge yet. From Tuktoyaktuk to Cabo San Lucas. 7500+ kms. A run for visibility, connection, and the global Arthritis 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.
My Symptoms
A Lifelong Journey with Arthritis
-
Daily, persistent pain affecting the back, neck and hips
-
Daily limitations in movement due to stiffness and inflammation
-
Prolonged muscle spasms in the back and diaphragm, causing shallow, painful breathing for weeks at a time
-
Ongoing anxiety around movement, with constant calculation of pain risk during everyday activities
-
Recurrent flare-ups involving acute, severe pain in multiple areas of the body
-
Periods of physical weakness and reduced functional capacity
-
Cognitive impairment (“brain fog”) lasting weeks to months at a time
-
Addiction to prescribed opiates and amphetamines to manage pain and psychological symptoms
-
Severe eye inflammation (uveitis/iritis) in childhood that nearly resulted in blindness
-
Gastrointestinal inflammation and digestive complications
-
Chronic insomnia caused by ongoing pain and physical discomfort
-
History of suicidal ideation linked to chronic pain and disease burden
Local Sponsors
Our amazing local supporters. These legends are donating their time, skills, and heart to help make this journey possible.
-2.png)
