Hello everyone! My name is Marissa Partridge and I am married to Chris Partridge, U of M’s Safeties Coach and Special Teams Coordinator. We have 2 children, Mia and Gianna. We are originally from New Jersey and were brought to Ann Arbor when my husband accepted his current job.
I met Tammi Carr through our mutual connection with Michigan football! Football truly is family and I could not be more grateful that it brought us together.
As I got to know Tammi, her family and their story I felt compelled to help in any way possible. From donating, to helping set up events, to grabbing a quick lunch and just having girl talk. Everything and anything helps.
One day, as we sat at lunch, Tammi turned to me and said, “I have a question for you.” My reply was, “ Whatever it is, I’m in.” Little did I know she was going to ask me to dance. I grew up dancing. I love to dance. I love to get lost in the movement and music. Those who know me personally, know this was going to be a challenge for me.
But for Tammi, my answer will always be yes.
This is where our stories overlap a bit. At 38 weeks pregnant with my first daughter I was diagnosed with a non-cancerous brain tumor called a meningioma. It was very invasive and has left me with limited mobility on my left side. Mainly my entire, leg and foot. That’s not usually the case, but in mine it was.
Tammi and I bonded over our stories and her strength and grace has been an inspiration. I was fortunate that my diagnosis was not cancerous as we well know many others are.
Children like Chad and so many others who are diagnosed with DIPG need our help. We need to fight this deadly disease. We need to defeat DIPG. So please consider supporting both myself and The ChadTough Foundation, so we can continue to raise awareness and fund the research to defeat DIPG.
Chad…this dance is for you and all those fighting DIPG!
