Leanne Richardson lives just outside Calgary, Canada. She’s a wife, a mother, and a grandma. And she works. But somehow she’s found the time to run - and run and run and run – for the past 25 years. 

She’s run four times, in fact, in what’s considered by many to be the most grueling long-distance race on earth – the Grand2Grand Ultra. And three of those races were for JAR of Hope, the latest one last September 24-30.  

The G2G Ultra requires participants to go up and down and over and under the rugged peaks and valleys and deserts of Arizona and Utah. It’s 171 miles in some of the most difficult terrain in America. Along with some of the most dramatic temperature variations in America during the course of a day. 

It’s torture-filled week. But Leanne was happy to join the 6-person JAR of Hope team again in September. 

“I first met Jim Raffone at the 2016 G2G,” Leanne says, “and I was immediately taken by his determination to save these kids. And to raise money by constantly putting himself through some of the toughest athletic events in the world. As a parent, you can only imagine what families with Duchenne are going through, every day of their lives. And I could see immediately that was a huge motivating factor for the JAR of Hope team.”

For the Richardsons, JAR of Hope is “all in the family.” Because after signing up for the G2G Ultra in 2016, Leanne hired a running coach to help prepare her. And after finding out that her son Ryan was an accomplished videographer, the running coach hired him. Ryan later met Jim Raffone, and after seeing the young man’s work, Jim hired him to create videos for JOH. And Ryan was part of the team at both the 2019 and the 2022 G2G events. 

At last September’s G2G Ultra, Leanne says she noticed immediately – for the third time - that the JAR of Hope team is like a family, helping each other through this week-long torture-test. It wasn’t hard to see, she says, that everyone on the team was acutely aware of the stakes involved – children’s lives. And she notes, too, the incredible team spirit of JOH runners as they help each other navigate difficult stretches, sometimes pushing from behind or just holding someone up to keep them going. 

“It’s pretty simple, “Leanne says. “Unlike many of the other competitors in the race, we’re not there for the glory. Our team members know we’re doing something much bigger than just ourselves. I always try to visualize the faces of the kids with Duchenne md as I’m running. And I believe it helps power me to keep going.”

She says her family is very proud of her efforts – and now Ryan’s, too – on behalf of JAR of Hope. Her husband Kevin has met Jim Raffone, and he’s purchased some items to help raise funds. And he’s Leanne’s biggest supporter in her efforts to do what she can to help these children, whatever it takes and wherever it takes her. 

The first two days of the Grand2Grand Ultra were really a struggle, Leanne says, because it’s emotionally challenging to support your teammates while at the same time also battling your own mental, emotional and physical exhaustion. She says everyone went to bed a bit frustrated after Day 2, because after two days of this exhaustion, they knew what was coming the next day - the Long Stage - 24+ hours of non-stop, incredibly difficult terrain. 

But, she notes, in a race this demanding, the right mind-set is more important than athletic ability. And like every other member of the JAR of Hope team, she says she will never forget Jim Raffone’s speech before the Long Stage. 

“Jim sensed our frustration the night after the second stage,” she says, “and he pulled the team together the next morning, which was the Long Stage. He started with a prayer. And then, person by person, reminded us why we were there. His words were very powerful. And they touched the hearts of every single one of us. Jim stepped up as a true leader, inspiring and supporting the team to make it to the finish line.” 

And after a group hug, she says, they all shook the frustration off and lined up at the starting line as a team, ready to go. 

“We’re willing to share our stories publicly,” Leanne says, “to open peoples’ eyes to our cause. It takes courage to open up like that…and it takes vulnerability. And I’ve referred a number of people to JAR of Hope – including a woman whose child has Duchenne.”

She was touched by the way the JOH team embraced her instantly, and made her feel part of a very special “family.” And she’s planning to put herself through another G2G Ultra with JAR of Hope in 2024.

When she made it to the finish line in last September’s event, she was overwhelmed with exhaustion. But within seconds, she adds, the exhaustion was replaced with a feeling of joy… and gratitude. 

“Because what greater feeling can there be,” Leanne Richardson says, “than helping children fighting to stay alive?”