All Kinds of Awesome

 Can you find Nixie in this photo with the other team members? 

Do y'all remember our creativity challenge last summer here on Reasonably Well? We had several amazing entries, but the winner was Amy and son Cole, who created a fabulous water sprite named Super Hydrating Nixie. You can refresh your memory of this fun exercise here and here.

It appears that our Nixie has been a busy girl. I received this amazing email from a SSF member Heidi recently:

I just wanted to share this...our mascot Nixie was able to participate with  Team Sjogrens in the Disney 1/2 marathon! Thanks to you and Amy for giving us Nixie!

Heidi attached several pictures, the one above being the Team Sjogren's Half Marathon team. I responded to her mail by asking permission to use her name and the pictures in an upcoming post, which she enthusiastically approved. I also asked her to share her thoughts about participating in this event. Here's what she had to say:

I looked at this event as not only an opportunity to raise funds and awareness for Sjogrens and research, but also to prove to myself that I could do this! What is amazing is that even in my pre-Sjogrens state would I have ever attempted to or think I could do this! Early in the race I was so afraid I would not be able to finish. But I did! And I was so impressed to see other Sjoggies participate and do so well- we CAN do normal and extraordinary things!  We should not give up!
[........]
I would encourage any Sjoggie who is ambulatory to support their local walkabouts and even consider the 1/2 marathon. It was definitely a positive affirmation that I still have what it takes to contribute and function in spite of my added super power, which btw I think helped me avoid catching the flu from my husband this past week!
Take care and thanks again for keeping us connected, informed, and inspired through the blog!
Heidi

Check out these great pictures of Heidi, Nixie, and other team members:

This one is my favorite:

Congratulations to Heidi, the whole Team Sjogren's and to our very own Nixie. Thank you Heidi for your hard work and your inspiration to us all!