One Ironman. One reason.

MILES FOR
LAUREN

My name is Brady Geier, and I’m taking on an IRONMAN to honor my little sister Lauren and raise awareness about NF.

Sponsor a mileRead Lauren’s story
Race day countdown
—
days until September 12, 2027
Fundraising goal
$14,060

$100 for every mile I’ll cover on race day.

2.4 mi swim
112 mi bike
26.2 mi run
The reason behind every mile

About Lauren

Meet my little sister, Lauren!

Lauren is sweet, caring, and funny (or at least she thinks she is). She loves doing art projects, playing with our dog Emmett, and, more than anything, taking care of little kids. She has always loved babies and young children and hopes to work with them someday.

Lauren was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) when she was just 18 months old. She has a rare form called NF1 Microdeletion Syndrome, meaning she is missing a portion of genetic material on her 17th chromosome. Her form of NF1 can be more severe and comes with a greater risk of intellectual disabilities, tumors, and certain cancers.

NF has affected Lauren in different ways throughout her life. As a baby, she had low muscle tone that caused feeding difficulties, weakness, and delayed motor skills. She also had apraxia of speech, which caused significant language delays when she was younger.

When Lauren was four, doctors discovered an NF-related tumor on her optic nerve. For years, our family worried that if it grew, she could need chemotherapy to protect her vision. Thankfully, after years of MRIs and appointments, the tumor has remained stable and her doctors don't expect it to progress.

Today, Lauren is most affected by ADHD, language delays, and autism related to NF1 Microdeletion Syndrome. School and social situations haven't always been easy for her, but she continues to be one of the happiest and most caring people I know.

NF is unpredictable, and we don't always know what challenges Lauren may face in the future. But if you know Lauren, you know that NF is only one small part of who she is.

Read about the mission →

Lauren & me, through the years

Swipe to see all 10 photos
Understanding the cause

What is NF?

Neurofibromatosis encompasses a set of distinct genetic disorders that cause tumors to grow along various types of nerves. NF can also affect the development of non-nervous tissues such as bones and skin. Neurofibromatosis causes tumors to grow anywhere on or in your body.

Types of Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis (NF) has been classified into three distinct types: NF1, NF2 and Schwannomatosis.

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1): Also known as von Recklinghausen NF or Peripheral NF. Occurring in 1:2,500 births, it is characterized by multiple café-au-lait spots and neurofibromas on or under the skin. NF1 is the most common neurological disorder caused by a single gene. Enlargement and deformation of bones and curvature of the spine (scoliosis) may also occur. Occasionally, tumors may develop in the brain, on cranial nerves, or on the spinal cord. About 50% of people with NF also have learning disabilities.

Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2): Also known as Bilateral Acoustic NF (BAN), it is much rarer, occurring in 1:25,000 births. NF2 is characterized by multiple tumors on the cranial and spinal nerves, and by other lesions of the brain and spinal cord. Tumors affecting both of the auditory nerves are the hallmark. Hearing loss beginning in the teens or early twenties is generally the first symptom.

Schwannomatosis: A rare form of NF that has only recently been recognized and appears to affect around 1:40,000 individuals. It is less well understood than NF1 and NF2, and features may vary greatly between patients.

Unlike NF1 and NF2, the inheritance patterns of Schwannomatosis are not understood due largely to a lack of cases to study. However, it is estimated that 85% of cases are sporadic (no previous family history) and 15% are inherited.

If you’d like to learn more, visit the resources alongside this section for more detailed information.

The road to 140.6

Training progress

Follow the swim, bike, and run training behind Miles for Lauren. I’ll share milestones and weekly updates as race day gets closer.

View Training Progress →
2.4 miRace-day swim
112 miRace-day bike
26.2 miRace-day run
Training log

Updates are coming

Open the training page for weekly numbers, milestones, and honest check-ins.

View Training Progress →
Follow along

From training to race day

See how the preparation builds across all three disciplines.

Community

Every share helps

Share Miles for Lauren with someone who might want to learn about NF or cheer us on.