Small But Mighty: Edward Patterson and His Marathon Journey for CdLS Awareness

Edward (Eddie) Patterson first began running consistently when his daughter was diagnosed with a rare syndrome, Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS). CdLS is a rare genetic spectrum disorder present from birth that affects physical development, learning, and behavior. When the CdLS Foundation, a national nonprofit supporting individuals with CdLS and their families, reached out to invite Eddie to join Team CdLS to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, he chose to get involved as a way to help raise awareness and support the CdLS community.

Eddie’s favorite part about training is the mental challenge it presents —  it’s 1v1, just him and the road. His unique life and schedule make running in groups hard, so he’s presented with the challenge of often running alone. Eddie approaches it as a marathon, not a sprint. Even on “off” days, progress comes from simply showing up and continuing forward.

Eddie trained with Fleet Feet Training to get ready for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, doing long runs with the group when he was able to. He valued the knowledge and training tips Fleet Feet Training provides, which gave him an extra edge and consistently helped him achieve a PR every time he trained with Fleet Feet.

When training gets tough, what keeps Eddie going is his daughter. Everything she — and other CdLS families — have fought through, and will continue to fight through, motivates Eddie to keep pushing, even on the hard days.

Eddie’s connection to Team CdLS is deeply personal. Since first reaching out to his family, the CdLS Foundation has been incredibly supportive, becoming like family. The CdLS Foundation has helped the Pattersons navigate this new chapter in their lives, and having them as a resource has added value and strength to their journey.

When asked if he could leave others with one message about CdLS, Eddie’s answer was simple and powerful: “We are small but mighty.”

If you are interested in joining Team CdLS in this year’s marathon, you can find out more here: 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon | CdLS Foundation