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A Niece’s Race for a Tinnitus Cure

Help Caitlin support tinnitus research

Caitlin Connors is a runner who recently signed up for the 2008 Philadelphia Independence Triathlon. She has never competed in a triathlon before, has no experience in competitive swimming and has never owned a road bike. Caitlin wants to push herself to see if she can finish the triathlon and wants to use the triathlon to raise money for awareness of tinnitus. Caitlin is so committed to this cause because an aunt very dear to her suffers with severe tinnitus.

After a weekend trip to Miami in February 2006, where a screeching fire alarm went off in their hotel, Caitlin’s aunt acquired tinnitus and sudden sensoneural hearing loss (SSHL). Caitlin's aunt lost 70 percent of her hearing up to 4000 KHz .

Caitlin’s aunt tried for an entire year to successfully treat her hearing and tinnitus without any improvement. Initially, she was unable to sleep without sleeping aids; she couldn't concentrate, work, socialize or be in noisy environments. She endured numerous visits to specialists and medication trials. She also tried alternative treatment methods, such as acupuncture, massage and herbs, to no avail.

It has now been more than two years and Caitlin says that her aunt has accepted her condition and adapted her lifestyle. She now tries “tuning out" her tinnitus so it doesn't overtake her life, but she continues to suffer from severe hearing loss and constant ringing in her head and left ear. Her life is forever changed.

Caitlin has dedicated her race to her aunt and as of June 18, has already raised $5,050 toward the fight to cure tinnitus! To gear up for the race, she swims 1,500 meters once a week, runs for 30 minutes every day and bikes more than 40 miles each week. She and her aunt believe that tinnitus research is on the right track and that someday soon this debilitating ringing can be stopped. You can help by contributing in honor of Caitlin’s race to cure tinnitus.

The American Tinnitus Association is very proud to have an individual such as Caitlin dedicate her race to helping her aunt and the millions of others suffering with tinnitus. Go Caitlin!!!