But on March 15, he will run 26.2 miles in the Tobacco Road Marathon.
After being diagnosed with Pompe, a neuromuscular disorder, two years ago, the second-year UNC medical student said he wants to run for those who can’t.
“I wanted to do something kind of insane, something crazy, something to grab people’s attention and hopefully inspire them to donate and contribute to the cause,” McIntosh said. “So I decided to sign up for a marathon.”
He is raising money through the United Pompe Foundation. With 10 days until the marathon, he has already exceeded his $12,000 goal.
Pompe disease is a genetic, autosomal recessive disorder, said Stephanie Austin, a genetic counselor at Duke University School of Medicine. She said the cells of people with Pompe disease do not produce enough of the enzyme needed to break down glycogen, which builds up and damages cells. Pompe disease impacts the muscle cells, and patients often experience muscle weakness and respiratory problems.
McIntosh said it often takes a long time to diagnose the disease, and patients often go through misdiagnoses. He said this was not his experience, as he was diagnosed fairly quickly.